I'm sure I read in a previous message on the other board, (though when I searched I couldn't find it) that our employees should know our mission statement verbatim and they should know and understand the main points of our QPM. Is this true?

John -
There is no requirement that I am aware of that states your employees must know your mission statement at all, let alone verbatim. The standard does require that they know the quality policy, but I have never seen an auditor ask for the policy verbatim, only the gist of the policy.

I haven't seen the Mission Statement, but like Scott I have seen them ask the quality policy. I know Scott had LRQA as a registrar and they didn't ask for it verbatum. Entela used to ask for people to know it or read it - verbatum. So did AGA and a couple of others. So - as your registrar to be sure. There are obvious differences between registrars on this issue.

Contemporary comments about a Mission Statement? I'm sure it doesn't have to be regurgitated verbatim (if one exists), but are any auditors asking anything about the company Mission Statement? Do all companies have a Mission Statement? Does yours?

Auditors are not asking about mission statements since I have been involved in systems certifications the last 10 years. Mission Statements are available but not of a focus like they used to be in the 70's and 80's. Now the auditors are asking employees about the company Quality Policy, and what it means to them, and how it relates to their job. Does not need to be verbatim, but in their own words as they understand it.

Auditors are not asking about mission statements since I have been involved in systems certifications the last 10 years. Mission Statements are available but not of a focus like they used to be in the 70's and 80's. Now the auditors are asking employees about the company Quality Policy, and what it means to them, and how it relates to their job. Does not need to be verbatim, but in their own words as they understand it.

The only thing that I would add is that I have seen some companies are replacing "Quality Policy" with the Mission Statement. As long as they can explain it in their own words and how the help support it in their job function that is what is important.

Contemporary comments about a Mission Statement? I'm sure it doesn't have to be regurgitated verbatim (if one exists), but are any auditors asking anything about the company Mission Statement? Do all companies have a Mission Statement? Does yours?
Hello! I believe that a "Mission Statment" may not be required to satisfy your Quality System or auditor, however depending on your interpretation of certain customer specific requirments ie: Ford TS, Ford Q1 Ford MMOG etc. You may be required to communicate your companies goals, targets and objectives to all employees. Again we are talking about "Hermeneutics" or the science of interpretation. So what is a "Mission Statement" Is this a vision for where the company is, and where it's going? Could these be "Goals" of the company? OK, Enough of the Fluffy Stuff If I may share an opinion, I relalize this may not be everyones opinion. I would prefer in "My Company" that every single person be 100% clear on our "Mission Statement" and be in alignment with it. For those not going in the same direction as the company, we would pray they don't hang around for to long. If I had a choice, everyone in the company would know it "Verbatim".....Alice came to a fork in the road, There, stood a tall tree, with a cat sitting on a branch. Confused, Alice looked up at the cat and said "Which way should I Take?" the cat replied "Where are you trying go?" and Alice said "I don't know" with that the cat said then it doesn't really mater.
Any Thoughts?

Hello! I believe that a "Mission Statment" may not be required to satisfy your Quality System or auditor, however depending on your interpretation of certain customer specific requirments ie: Ford TS, Ford Q1 Ford MMOG etc. You may be required to communicate your companies goals, targets and objectives to all employees. Again we are talking about "Hermeneutics" or the science of interpretation. So what is a "Mission Statement" Is this a vision for where the company is, and where it's going? Could these be "Goals" of the company? OK, Enough of the Fluffy Stuff If I may share an opinion, I relalize this may not be everyones opinion. I would prefer in "My Company" that every single person be 100% clear on our "Mission Statement" and be in alignment with it. For those not going in the same direction as the company, we would pray they don't hang around for to long. If I had a choice, everyone in the company would know it "Verbatim".....Alice came to a fork in the road, There, stood a tall tree, with a cat sitting on a branch. Confused, Alice looked up at the cat and said "Which way should I Take?" the cat replied "Where are you trying go?" and Alice said "I don't know" with that the cat said then it doesn't really mater.
Any Thoughts?

Most, if not all, corporate mission statements are useless PR twiddle. The mission of all commercial enterprises is to make money by selling products and/or services. What more needs to be said. if anything needs to be said at all? Mission statements should serve a useful purpose for non-profit organizations that are dependent on contributions from the public, but for commercial companies there's always a quid pro quo (money in exchange for products, e.g.) that obviates the need for the business to explain to me that their mission is to make me happy.

I know companies that have vision statements!

In my experience people that have visions are Monks & people in mental instituions!

:soap:

I know companies that have vision statements!

In my experience people that have visions are Monks & people in mental instituions!

:soap:
This maybe true: But a man, woman (Or Company) with a vision will never be held hostage by a circumstance.

This maybe true: But a man, woman (Or Company) with a vision will never be held hostage by a circumstance.

That's if they are taking their medication!

If I had a choice, everyone in the company would know it "Verbatim".....

Do you mean know the mission or policy or whatever off by heart? Have it memorized? I hope not. Knowing something verbatim does not mean that we understand it or how to apply it or how it impacts us. Isn't that more important than knowing a passage word-for-word?

Most, if not all, corporate mission statements are useless PR twiddle. The mission of all commercial enterprises is to make money by selling products and/or services. What more needs to be said. if anything needs to be said at all? Mission statements should serve a useful purpose for non-profit organizations that are dependent on contributions from the public, but for commercial companies there's always a quid pro quo (money in exchange for products, e.g.) that obviates the need for the business to explain to me that their mission is to make me happy.I loved this! :D

I would find it creepy if everyone could spew the mission statement verbatim. What I'd like to know is what they know it says--what it means. If there's no meaning to it that someone on the line can explain or paraphrase, the statement is indeed PR jibber jabber.

But suppose that's what you have? Then maybe people should learn to recite the thing to the best of their ability, like the Pledge of Allegiance. At a past employer the employees received laminated pocket-sized cards with the quality policy and mission statements.

Most, if not all, corporate mission statements are useless PR twiddle. The mission of all commercial enterprises is to make money by selling products and/or services. What more needs to be said. if anything needs to be said at all? Mission statements should serve a useful purpose for non-profit organizations that are dependent on contributions from the public, but for commercial companies there's always a quid pro quo (money in exchange for products, e.g.) that obviates the need for the business to explain to me that their mission is to make me happy.

Jim was very blunt but I feel the same way. In a company that is providing acceptable products and services, treating the customer fairly and making money, I find it hard to believe that employees need a mission statement since they know what they need to do. If they don't know what is needed, the mission statement won't help them.

I have a collection of mission statements and quality policies that I collected back in my past life. I bring them out for quality management training and I must admit that some are creative and not necessarily believable. I almost treat them as dinosaurs from a bygone era.

Bill Pflanz

Most, if not all, corporate mission statements are useless PR twiddle. The mission of all commercial enterprises is to make money by selling products and/or services. What more needs to be said. if anything needs to be said at all? Mission statements should serve a useful purpose for non-profit organizations that are dependent on contributions from the public, but for commercial companies there's always a quid pro quo (money in exchange for products, e.g.) that obviates the need for the business to explain to me that their mission is to make me happy.


PR twiddle...aren't those the little pieces of peanut that come in the Cracker Jack snack...?

Unfortunately, there are very few mission statements that do much good. The idea was sound - define the company's ideals and beliefs, communicate them, and enforce them...

A few companies do live it, but most just hang it on the wall. I have seen some short catchy ones. That helps.

But it all hinges on one thing. Every company has beliefs they live by. Some are good some are not. But, the real mission statement does not always match the lofty things in the one hanging on the wall.

PR twiddle...aren't those the little pieces of peanut that come in the Cracker Jack snack...?

Unfortunately, there are very few mission statements that do much good. The idea was sound - define the company's ideals and beliefs, communicate them, and enforce them...

A few companies do live it, but most just hang it on the wall. I have seen some short catchy ones. That helps.

But it all hinges on one thing. Every company has beliefs they live by. Some are good some are not. But, the real mission statement does not always match the lofty things in the one hanging on the wall.

Please allow me to apologize for my ignorance. Based on the feedback in this forum, I am obviously confused on the deffinition of a "Mission Statement" or it's purpose. I have been of the opinion that a mission statement was something very significant, in fact it's the parameters by which I choose to live my life, (or run my company). I have my own personal "Mission Statement" that has less to do with making money, or what I expect others to do for me, and everything to do with trying to make every passing day better than the last. My promise to be faithfull to my wife, to treat my kids with dignity and respect, to live a life style of nutrition, health and fitness and to make a difference in the lives of the people whom I've had the privilege to meet and have relationship with is not some thing I ever considered as "PR Twiddle" I recognize the fact the most people don't know which direction to take when they approach a fork in the road, and that most may not believe anything they do can or will make a difference. For these sad folks, I would refer to the story of the boy who goes down to the beach in the early morning after a big storm the night before, there he finds thousands of starfish washed up on the sand. He could see, as the morning sun was beginning to gain power, that the starfish were starting to bake and die in the sun. With that he starts grabbing washed up starfish and throwing them back into the sea. A short time later a man came jogging down the beach with his dog. Puzzeld by the young boys activities, he says "What are you doing?" the boy replies, 'I'm throwing these starfish back into the sea" The man with the dog says... "Why?" and the boys says, because they are dying in the sun. Then the man says, "I mean why bother?, we've been jogging on the beach for a mile or so and there must be millions of starfish washed up, as far as the eye can see". The boy says, "whats your point?" and the man says what makes you think you can possibley make a difference? With that the boy picked up another starfish, through it back into the water, looked at the man and said "I made a difference to that one".........The man joined in and soon everyone on the beach were throwing the starfish back in....We can all make a difference, I just choose to write things down to keep me on track. As I said, I'm sorry for confusing this with a "Mission Statement". For anyone wishing to learn about mission statements, the book "Full Steam Ahead" is an excellent resource.

Please allow me to apologize for my ignorance. Based on the feedback in this forum, I am obviously confused on the deffinition of a "Mission Statement" or it's purpose.I have been of the opinion that a mission statement was something very significant, in fact it's the parameters by which I choose to live my life, (or run my company). I have my own personal "Mission Statement" that has less to do with making money, or what I expect others to do for me, and everything to do with trying to make every passing day better than the last. My promise to be faithfull to my wife, to treat my kids with dignity and respect, to live a life style of nutrition, health and fitness and to make a difference in the lives of the people whom I've had the privilege to meet and have relationship with is not some thing I ever considered as "PR Twiddle"

The discussion was about corporate mission statements, not personal decisions about how to live one's life. Your own ethical and moral decisions are admirable, but lots of people have lived their lives that way without ever even having heard the phrase "mission statement."

I have been of the opinion that a mission statement was something very significant, in fact it's the parameters by which I choose to live my life, (or run my company). I have my own personal "Mission Statement" that has less to do with making money, or what I expect others to do for me, and everything to do with trying to make every passing day better than the last. My promise to be faithfull to my wife, to treat my kids with dignity and respect, to live a life style of nutrition, health and fitness and to make a difference in the lives of the people whom I've had the privilege to meet and have relationship with

I was in the process of saying just what Jim said about mission statements and the same thing is true of corporate mission statements. There have been lots of successful companies without mission statements. Whether it is personal or corporate, it is not the mission statement that is important but what actions you take. Regardless of what your mission statement says, your customers (or those around you) will know what is important to you by what you do.

There are plenty of self help books for personal and business use that insist that it will not be done unless it is written down. For some people that may be true but not everyone needs that assistance. If it works for you or your company than great, I just think that most companies have it as a plaque on the wall.

Bill Pflanz

Fortunately for us, our quality policy was derived from our mission statement. Our culture at work is one that leads all employees to know the mission statement rather than quote it verbatim. I guess we are lucky that way.

Our registrar's auditors asks each auditee if they know the quality policy and how it applies to her or his job. Having each auditee quote the quality policy verbatim has not happened to date.

Jaime

Please allow me to apologize for my ignorance. Based on the feedback in this forum, I am obviously confused on the deffinition of a "Mission Statement" or it's purpose. I have been of the opinion that a mission statement was something very significant, in fact it's the parameters by which I choose to live my life, (or run my company). I have my own personal "Mission Statement" that has less to do with making money, or what I expect others to do for me, and everything to do with trying to make every passing day better than the last. My promise to be faithfull to my wife, to treat my kids with dignity and respect, to live a life style of nutrition, health and fitness and to make a difference in the lives of the people whom I've had the privilege to meet and have relationship with is not some thing I ever considered as "PR Twiddle" I recognize the fact the most people don't know which direction to take when they approach a fork in the road, and that most may not believe anything they do can or will make a difference. For these sad folks, I would refer to the story of the boy who goes down to the beach in the early morning after a big storm the night before, there he finds thousands of starfish washed up on the sand. He could see, as the morning sun was beginning to gain power, that the starfish were starting to bake and die in the sun. With that he starts grabbing washed up starfish and throwing them back into the sea. A short time later a man came jogging down the beach with his dog. Puzzeld by the young boys activities, he says "What are you doing?" the boy replies, 'I'm throwing these starfish back into the sea" The man with the dog says... "Why?" and the boys says, because they are dying in the sun. Then the man says, "I mean why bother?, we've been jogging on the beach for a mile or so and there must be millions of starfish washed up, as far as the eye can see". The boy says, "whats your point?" and the man says what makes you think you can possibley make a difference? With that the boy picked up another starfish, through it back into the water, looked at the man and said "I made a difference to that one".........The man joined in and soon everyone on the beach were throwing the starfish back in....We can all make a difference, I just choose to write things down to keep me on track. As I said, I'm sorry for confusing this with a "Mission Statement". For anyone wishing to learn about mission statements, the book "Full Steam Ahead" is an excellent resource.


:applause: I don't think you are confused at all. I think you have expressed a mission statement perfectly. This is what we are supposed to do, individually and in our companies. A few of us do, Unfortunately, many others have been knocked down often enough, they don't keep trying. I used to post a sign with that starfish story on the walls of companies I work for, to motivate them to keep trying.

I believe there are three kinds of people:
People who make things happen,
People who watch things happen,
People who wonder, What happened?

I think you sound like someone who is making things happen!:agree1: I hope others keep trying.

I was in the process of saying just what Jim said about mission statements and the same thing is true of corporate mission statements. There have been lots of successful companies without mission statements. Whether it is personal or corporate, it is not the mission statement that is important but what actions you take. Regardless of what your mission statement says, your customers (or those around you) will know what is important to you by what you do.

There are plenty of self help books for personal and business use that insist that it will not be done unless it is written down. For some people that may be true but not everyone needs that assistance. If it works for you or your company than great, I just think that most companies have it as a plaque on the wall.

Bill Pflanz


I would argue that every company that has sustainable success has a mission statement. But, they don't all write them down. There has to be a clear understanding of the goal, the focus, something that ties the culture and team together. Some companies just don't write them down.

And, when a company loses that focus, they slowly begin to lose market share...

The discussion was about corporate mission statements, not personal decisions about how to live one's life. Your own ethical and moral decisions are admirable, but lots of people have lived their lives that way without ever even having heard the phrase "mission statement."


That doesn't mean they didn't have one. Most winners have a clearly defined mission, whether they write down or not, is not the issue.

I agree. One of the things that distinguished companies in 'Built to Last' was that all of them - all of them were absolutely, completely clear about their company aimed to do.

Personally, I hate the term 'mission statement', but I applaud companies that have one when it's clear and says what they do and their people not only know it, but demonstrate it by their actions & attitude. I don't expect them to know it verbatim.

Our auditor regularly asks the following question to our associates -

" I see your company has a quality policy/mission statement that talks about ontime service, damage free delivery, etc. etc. In your own words tell me how you contribute to that policy....