Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Business
Strategy Newsletter
Issue 1-2009
Vision,
Mission,
Principles,
And the
Human Brain
By Henrik Mårtensson
Tempo!
Supplemen
t
Can be rea
d
When John F. Kennedy said that the United only a small part of what stand-alon
e
States would put a man on the Moon, and it accomplished.
bring him safely back before the end of the
1960’s, he presented a strong, unifying vision. The vision united a nation, and it
drove the development of technologies neces-
I was only six years old at the time of the first sary to accomplish the goal, including developing
Moon landing, but I still remember the awe I lightweight electronics.
felt when I saw Neil Armstrong standing on
the Moon. It was the greatest adventure man- NASA did not invent the Integrated Circuit (IC),
kind has embarked upon to date, and it began but the organization was an early adopter, and it
with a vision statement. funded research work at MIT, and spurred the
imagination of scientists and engineers.
The vision of a man on the Moon energized
the floundering U.S. space program, but that is NASA has also been a driving force in the devel-
opment of satellites, which are necessary for our
modern communications systems. Would they
The Tempo! newsletter contains supporting have been able to do this without the prestige,
material for Tempo!, a business strategy
book written by Henrik Mårtensson power and energy generated by the Apollo space
The Tempo! newsletter is published by program? Maybe, but I believe not.
HM MediaTech.
Email:
self@henrikmartensson.org More importantly, our paradigms, the ideas we
Phone:
+46 708 56 23 65 have about how our world works would be
Twitter:
@Kallokain quite different.
Skype:
rubyist
© 2009 by Henrik Mårtensson
Would we view the world in quite the same
way without images like this famous photo
from Apollo 17:
Why then, are most corporate vision and mis- — John F. Kennedy
sion statements so bland? A vision statement is
supposed to inspire, and yet, most companies There are several reasons for companies having
have vision statements that are very similar, bland, impotent vision and mission statements:
and of little interest to anyone but C-level ex-
ecutives, and perhaps the odd accountant or 1. Developing vision and mission statements
two. take time. C-level managers are loath to
spend the time necessary. They are often
Many vision and mission statements are filled more focused on dealing with issues that are
with phrases like “market leader” and “provide urgent, rather than issues that are truly im-
customer value”, or “products of the highest portant.
quality”. Frankly, most such statements are
tripe. They have no substance. They inspire no 2. Few people, C-level or not, know where to
one, and have little or no effect on how the start. Both the purposes and the definitions
organization conducts its business. Nor are may be unclear. In many corporate cultures
they a useful framework for developing strate- admitting to not knowing something is seen
gies for the future. as exposing a vulnerability. So, a bunch of C-
2
Coca-Cola Vision Statement
level executives, all equally uncertain and 5. Few people have a process for developing
confused, sit together, and focus on not vision and mission statements.
revealing that they do not know how to
create mission and vision statements, What Vision and Mission Statements Are
rather than on learning how to do it.
A good vision statement expresses a compelling
3. Developing a vision requires a great deal of vision about the future. Achieving the vision does
introspection. It is important to develop not have to be feasible, but it does have to be
true self-awareness, not only to understand desirable.
ones own motivations, but to take charge
of them, and even change them. While A common trap is to believe the vision has to be
most people are able to do this, it does specifically about what the organization wishes
require effort, and may take them far away to become. That is unnecessarily limiting. The
from their personal comfort zone. Thus, most powerful visions describe a world that is
many people simply choose not to make better in some way, not only for the organization
the effort. and its members, but for other people.
4. Few C-level executives understand the im- A mission statement describes how the organi-
portance of involving the entire organiza- zation will achieve the vision.
tion in developing the vision and the mis-
To be compelling, a vision statement must touch
sion. Thus, the statements fail to take the
the inner core of people, the center of their be-
views of other stakeholders, including the
ing. There are many things we can build our
organization’s employees, into account.
sense of identity and self-worth on: Family,
spouse, children, work, money, possessions,
3
Merck Mission Statement We are dedicated to the highest level of
The mission of Merck is to provide society scientific excellence and commit our re-
with superior products and services by devel- search to improving human and animal
oping innovations and solutions that improve health and the quality of life. We strive to
the quality of life and satisfy customer needs, identify the most critical needs of consum-
and to provide employees with meaningful ers and customers, and we devote our re-
work and advancement opportunities, and sources to meeting those needs.
investors with a superior rate of return.
We expect profits, but only from work
Merck Principles that satisfies customer needs and benefits
Our business is preserving and improving humanity. Our ability to meet our respon-
human life. All of our actions must be sibilities depends on maintaining a financial
measured by our success in achieving this position that invites investment in leading-
goal. We value, above all, our ability to edge research and that makes possible ef-
serve everyone who can benefit from the fective delivery of research results.
appropriate use of our products and serv-
ices, thereby providing lasting consumer We recognize that the ability to excel -- to
satisfaction. most competitively meet society's and cus-
tomers' needs -- depends on the integrity,
We are committed to the highest stan- knowledge, imagination, skill, diversity and
dards of ethics and integrity. We are re- teamwork of our employees, and we value
sponsible to our customers, to Merck em- these qualities most highly. To this end, we
ployees and their families, to the environ- strive to create an environment of mutual
ments we inhabit, and to the societies we respect, encouragement and teamwork --
serve worldwide. In discharging our re- an environment that rewards commitment
sponsibilities, we do not take professional and performance and is responsive to the
or ethical shortcuts. Our interactions with needs of our employees and their families.
all segments of society must reflect the
high standards we profess.
4
Possessions Work Family
Money
Spouse
Vision
Organization
Friends (Employer,
Enemies political
religious,
sports...)
Mission
Stephen Coveyʼs principle Based Vision and Mission statements are fully compatible with the No-
ble Vision concept described in Tempo! The ideas are also consistent with behavioral research and
modern neuroscientific research.
Even in a constantly changing world, basic prin- You can involve employees throughout the or-
ciples endure. Therefore, a vision, which must ganization in developing the core principles too.
also endure for a long time, must be based on Tempo! describes Crawford Slip, a brainstorming
core principles. technique that can be used in very large groups.
Crawford Slip can be an invaluable tool when
There are many principles that can serve as developing basic principles, vision, and mission
the basis for both personal and organizational for the organization.
vision and mission statements. Figuring out
which principles that guide your actions, and Remember that as the system owner, you will
articulating them, requires a lot of work. have to live and work according to the principles
you espouse. Therefore, the final decision about
Identifying and articulating the basic principles which principles to follow is yours. Input from
guiding an organization is the responsibility of others is valuable, but at the end of the day, you
the system owners. It cannot be delegated. are responsible for the core principles of your
However, if you are a system owner, for exam- organization.
ple the actual owner of a company, or a C-
level executive, nothing should stop you from Discover Your Core Principles: Are You a
getting a bit of help. Theory X or Theory Y Manager?
Creating effective vision and mission state- Unless you are a buddhist monk or a Barack
ments by necessity involves the entire organi- Obama type politician, you may never have ar-
zation. People will commit to a much greater ticulated the principles you live by, even if you
degree to a vision and a mission they them- are a person of great integrity and your princi-
selves have helped develop. ples have a very strong influence on your charac-
ter and your actions.
5
The Theory X says that workers are basically lazy.
organization They dislike work, and have little ambition.
must be
hierarchical. Therefore, extrinsic reward systems, usually
money, are necessary to motivate them. Workers
must be told what to do, and be closely moni-
tored. Each worker can be allowed only a
There must be small span of control. This requires a com-
comprehensive
control plex hierarchy of authority, and very de-
systems. tailed rules governing the behavior of em-
ployees.
6
Failures that
W.L. Goreʼs Guiding Principles result in
Fairness to each other and everyone learning should
with whom we come in contact be rewarded.
Theory Y leads to better performing organizations, partly because it encourages individual workers
to perform better, but also because it creates opportunities to create organizational structures that
are agile and resilient. See Tempo! for a thorough description of the organizational structures pos-
sible, and how they confer competitive advantages.
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The catch is that such transformations are diffi-
cult, and require a lot of effort.
8
desire for immediate gratification. The Nucleus
Accumbens is triggered by extrinsic rewards,
like a promise of money.
9
The Primus Vicus medieval society was close to shutting down when they decided to express their
vision and mission in the form of an Intermediate Objective Map to rally their forces. Later, when
under direct attack from a PR and event arrangement company, the society fought back success-
fully.
Primus Vicus (First Village) and was built in 2007 the project manager and members of the team
as part of the celebration of Halmstad’s 700 that built the village, decided to turn the village
year anniversary. into a permanent tourist attraction. In order to
do this, they formed the Primus Vicus medieval
The original plan was to tear Primus Vicus society, and obtained stewardship of the village.
down once the anniversary celebrations were
over. However, a group of enthusiasts, including
Create an interest
in medieval history
and folk life.
Work in close
Be a Living History Make money now
collaboration with
museum and in the future
the municipality
Have popular
Be a knowledge Draw tourists to Have active and
Have excellent attractions and
center for medieval Halmstad committed
sponsor support activities the year
history and culture members
around
Be well organized
Be an interesting with clearly defined
Have fun activities
Have top class PR partner for other areas of
for members
societies responsibility
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All active members took part in creating the vision and the mission for the Primus Vicus society. Ac-
tive participation at all levels of an organization is absolutely necessary. Without it, people will have
no reason to commit themselves. Less than a year after these pictures were taken, the people here
proved their commitment in the battle against Halmstad & Co.
Running the village proved to be much more Some time after my work with the society, the
difficult than building it. When I first visited society made a deal with the Halmstad city
Primus Vicus there was talk of giving up, of council to transform their stewardship of the
closing the village and disbanding the Primus village into ownership.
Vicus society.
When society members went to a meeting to
I talked with some society members when my sign the contract, they were surprised to find
family and I visited the village, and suggested that the deal was off. The city council had de-
that I might help. We decided to run a brain- cided to close the village and tear it down.
storming session for the entire society, and
develop a combined vision and mission state- It soon became apparent that the city council
ment in the form of an Intermediate Objective had changed its decision because of Halmstad &
Map, and a plan for reenergizing the society Co., an event arrangement company. The reasons
and getting the village on secure financial foot- are not entirely clear, but initially it probably had
ing. to do with getting control of the property the
village was built on. Later, the battle developed
I often work under NDA’s, but the Primus Vi- into a death-match.
cus society decided to let me videotape the
work we did, publish videocasts, write and talk Halmstad & Co. expected an easy victory. They
about the project. For me, this was a rare soon found they had attacked a nest of wild cats.
chance to publish detailed accounts of some of Primus Vicus had found their vision. They now
my work. made it their mission to fight off the threat.
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Start
The battle got pretty harsh. At one point, when I
A mission should play the
visited the village, the city council had locked
same role in a company that the village up, and had dogs running loose
the Holy Grail did in the
Crusades. It does not have to inside it to keep society members out. At
appear to be feasible; it only
has to be desirable. another point in the war, it was the society
Can the statement be disagreed — Dr. Russel Ackoff that occupied the village in order to stop the
with reasonably?
city council from tearing it down.
No
If the statement cannot be The Primus Vicus society attacked in Maneuver
disagreed with, it is to bland
to be useful. Conflict fashion, with attacks from multiple di-
Can progress towards the rections: They engaged a lawyer to sue for
objectives be measured?
breach of contract, they occupied the village,
they made public manifestations to turn the pub-
Yes
If progress is not lic against the PR company attacking them, they
measurable, the statement is
useless. held events to prove their worth to the com-
Does the munity, and they succeeded!
statement differentiate the
organization from other
organizations?
In the end, the Primus Vicus society had to agree
Yes to relocate the village, but they did obtain own-
If there is no fundamental
difference between the
ership. The CEO of Halmstad & Co. resigned in
organization and other June 2009.
organizations, the
Is it a unifying organization has no value
concept for all the diverse
businesses the company is in?
over other organizations.
The Primus Vicus society is alive and well. I am
definitely going to renew my membership.
Yes
Vision Check: How to Test Your Vision
Without diversification and
growth, the organization will and Mission Statements
eventually wither and die.
Does it suggest new directions for
diversification and growth? Use the flow chart to the left to check whether
your vision and mission statements can unify and
Yes
guide your company toward the future. The dia-
Shareholders, managers,
employees, the public,
gram is based on an article by Dr. Russel Ackoff.
customers, suppliers...
Great Vision
and Mission
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References and Acknowledgements
About Henrik Mårtensson
Books:
• Sway:The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior
by Ori Brafman and Rom Brafman
• The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People by
Stephen R. Covey.
Articles on the Web:
• Computers in Spaceflight: The NASA Experience
at
http://history.nasa.gov/computers/Part1.html
• Mission Statements, an article by Dr. Russell
Ackoff is available at
http://www.charleswarner.us/
articles/mission.htm
Photographs
The following photos are from stock.xchng:
www.henrikmartensson.org
kallokain.blogspot.com
www.youtube.com/user/kallokain
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