Sunday, May 3, 2009

SMEs - Step 3 in the business planning process

So far you should have decided on a harvest strategy (Step 1) and on your business model (Step 2). In Step 3 we move to the next item that has to be addressed. Setting the Vision and Mission.

The setting of the Vision, Mission, Goals and Objectives must be seen as having a funnel effect, where the Vision is at the broadest part of the funnel, in other words the biggest picture on where the business is intended to get to in the far future, and the Objectives as the narrowest part of the funnel, the smallest picture on where the business is intended to get to in the short term future, normally considered the current financial year.

The Corporate Strategy would normally end at the completion of the PESTEL analysis (Step 5)and the Business Strategy would include Steps 6 through 11.

So to return to Step 3, the setting of the Vision and Mission. The Vision should look at where and what the enterprise wants to be in the far future. This will vary in time. Some enterprises think a 10 year horison is fine, while some, like the Japanese think a 50 year horison is fine.

The Mission statement is normally considered as a nearer term concept of where the business will want to be in say 5 years, bearing in mind that the strategy may involve enormous change in the enterprise which will evoke an evolving strategy.

Look at the following examples:

Toyota Vision
"To become the most successful and respected lift truck company in the U.S."
Toyota Mission
"To sustain profitable growth by providing the best customer experience and dealer support."

McDonalds Vision
"McDonald's vision is to be the world's best quick service restaurant experience. Being the best means providing outstanding quality, service, cleanliness, and value, so that we make every customer in every restaurant smile."

McDonalds Mission
"To be our customers' favorite place and way to eat."

Hopefully this gives an insight into what a Vision and Mission statement should look like.

No comments: