Question

Read the mission statements of the following companies: Ford, International Red Cross, General Electric, and Dunkin donuts. In your discussion post, 1) compare and contrast each of the mission statements.  2) In your opinion, could you think of a more appropriate mission state for any of these organizations?

Answer 1

A mission statement of an organization is a short presentation of its purpose, philosophy, values, goals, beliefs, product quality, and target customers. Mission statements indicate what an organization wants to do. Mission statements of a few organizations are given below.

Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor’s mission has three elements in it i.e. one team, one plan and one goal. The car company considers its stakeholders as a team working to satisfy the customers’ passenger car needs. The grand team includes customers, employees, dealers, investors, suppliers, union, and community. One plan indicates, a strategy to achieve profitability through efficient production system, introduction of new products (new vehicles) and working as a team. One goal of the Ford Company is to satisfy the customers and present opportunity to all stakeholders to grow.

The mission of the Ford motor company is not obvious; the readers need to follow the company’s philosophy to understand the meaning of one team, one plan, and one goal.

International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC)

The mission of ICRC is in descriptive form and is expressed in three short paragraphs. First it projects itself as an independent organization that values the life victims of armed conflicts irrespective of victim’s nationality and political orientation. The organization takes effort to be impartial and neutral while discharging its function. Second, the organization works to prevent human suffering by facilitating principles of humanitarianism in international politics. Third, it directs and coordinates activities of services in the fields’ armed conflicts and situations of violence.

The ICRC’s missions are complex to understand, as its services must be delivered impartially to the beneficiaries irrespective of nationality and political allegiance.

General Electric

The GE’s mission is to invent next industrial age and help its customers to build infrastructure, move materials, provide power to projects and industries and cure the health issues. GE has the smallest mission statement but covers at least four industrial sectors and an aspiration to be a leader in respective industry.   

Dunkin Donuts

?The bakery product maker is very clear about its offerings to the customer. First it aims to provide delicious beverages and baked products to the customers; second it is interested in creating a social ambience that is friendly, relaxed and easy to access; third, it looks for ways to provide high quality baked products at affordable prices. And, finally, the organization is aiming to provide unforgettable experience to its customers.

The bakery product organization is straight forward in its mission i.e. to provide high quality baked products at affordable costs.