this is a discussion post and an assignment, ill post the discussion and you will have to respond to 3 people.

The strategy-making process is multifaceted and includes many organizational resources and people to make it happen. However, before an organization can even create a strategy, they need to ensure that the fundamental pieces are in place.

To begin our conversation on this module, answer the following question and then engage with the corresponding discussion:

The strategic vision is the most important component of charting an organization’s direction, vs The mission statement is the most important component of charting an organization’s path?

Remember to pull from your textbook, articles, videos, and other materials to provide specific answers, processes, concepts, and examples for this question. The first response will start the discussion, and each corresponding response must add to what has been said in previous posts.

Feb 10 7:39pm

| Last reply Feb 22 3:06pm

Reply from Jacklitch, Madison

When comparing strategic vision and mission statement, I think that strategic vision is more important to a company. The book explains that the strategic vision Describes managements aspirations for the companys future and the course and direction charted to achieve them (Thompson). This vision has to do with the long-term goals that the company has and without this vision there would be no clear direction to efficiently operate the organization. There has been a decline in employee engagement within the workplace and the reason for this according to Forbes, One of the main reasons employees give for their lack of engagement is a lack of connection with the companys purpose; another top reason they cite is a lack of clarity on what the organization expects of them (Eylor). Having a clear and well-communicated vision can help management communicate to customers, employees, and stockholders what their purpose and goal of the company is. They allow everyone to understand the future of the company as well.

When you think about a companys mission statements it was found that there can be problems since there can be a disconnect from the organizations. Many mission statements are considered quite brief, and some companies dont get a good job at conveying the purpose of the business within the statement. The strategic vision has a much clearer purpose for the future well the mission statement describes the purpose of present business. Thats why I believe that the mission statement is more valuable to a company.

Thompson, Arthur A. Crafting & Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage: Concepts and Cases, 2024 Release. Available from: University of Wisconsin-Stout, McGraw-Hill Higher Education (US), 2021.

Eylor, R. (2023, June 1). The importance of taking a visioning approach to business. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2023/06/01/the-importance-of-taking-a-visioning-approach-to-business/

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MT

Feb 10 8:01pm

Reply from McGinty, Teagan

I also agree with you, Madison. I think strategic vision is the most important when it comes to charting an organization’s direction. The strategic vision lays the groundwork for the company’s future. A strategic vision thus points an organization in a particular direction, charts a strategic path for it to follow, builds commitment to the future course of action, and molds organizational identity (Thompson 24). The mission statement is more about the present and what the organization is doing at the moment. It is essential to have a clear statement that is both easy to understand and not overly simplistic. Knowing not just the vision statement but the real underlying meaning of that statement helps you become involved in creating the future of your company.

Mission statements can be quite brief, just like what you said, Madison. Some are not so revealing, such as Microsoft’s mission statement, To empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more (Thompson 28). The mission statement only focuses on the present, not on the path they are going to take in the future.

Thompson, Arthur A. Crafting & Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage: Concepts and Cases, 2024 Release. Available from: University of Wisconsin-Stout, McGraw-Hill Higher Education (US), 2021.

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Feb 11 10:53am

| Last edited Feb 12 7:05pm

Reply from Ambourn, Avery

I also agree with you. Teagan. I believe the strategic vision is the most important element when charting an organization’s direction because it lays the groundwork for the company’s future. As Thompson explains, a strategic vision “points an organization in a particular direction, charts a strategic path for it to follow, builds commitment to the future course of action, and molds organizational identity” (Thompson, p.24). This highlights how vision not only guides long-term strategy but also helps employees feel connected to where the company is going.

In comparison, the mission statement focuses more on the present and what the organization is currently doing. While is it still important for a mission statement to be clear, meaningful, and not overly simplistic, it does not always communicate future direction. Understanding the deeper meaning behind a vision statement can help employees feel more involved in shaping the company’s future rather than only completing day-to-day tasks.

I also agree with your point that mission statements can sometimes be too brief or “not so revealing.” For example, Microsoft’s mission statement-“To empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more” (Thompson, p.28)-describes purpose but does not clearly explain the long-term strategic path. Because of this, I see the strategic vision as more influential in guiding future growth and organizational alignment.

Thompson, A. A. (2021). Crafting & executing strategy: The quest for competitive advantage: Concepts and cases (2024 release). McGraw-Hill Education.

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WJ

Feb 11 12:33pm

Reply from Wilhelmson, Jackson

I agree with you Avery, and I think you did a good job explaining how a strategic vision helps guide long-term organizational direction. Building off your point, I think another important benefit of a strong strategic vision is that it helps organizations maintain consistency in decision-making. When leadership has a clear understanding of the company’s future goals, it becomes easier to evaluate new opportunities, investments, and changes to operations because they are able to measure them against the organizations long-term direction. This helps prevent companies from making short-term decisions that could negatively impact future growth.

I also like your discussion about how vision statements help employees feel like they are connected to the organization. To build off that idea, research is often showing that employees are much more engaged and productive when they understand how their individual roles are contributing to the company’s larger goals. A clearly communicated strategic vision can help strengthen teamwork and can encourage employees to take more ownership in helping the organization succeed. Having this connection between vision and employee engagement can ultimately improve a customers satisfaction and the overall organizational performance.

Your example of Microsoft’s mission statement from the textbook (Thompson) also highlights an important distinction between the idea of mission and vision. While Microsoft’s mission explains its purpose and who it is serving, it is not necessarily describing the specific path the company plans to follow in the coming future. This idea is that mission statements are more focused on the present operations, while the strategic visions are providing the forward-looking guidance that is helping the organizations adapt to changes in tech, customer needs, and the competition.

Overall, I agree with your conclusion that the strategic vision plays a more influential role in guiding the future growth and alignment. When an organization can combine a strong vision with a supportive mission statement, they are able to create a balanced strategy that ends up helping them succeed in daily operations and long-term planning.

Thompson, A. A. (2021). Crafting & executing strategy: The quest for competitive advantage: Concepts and cases (2024 release). McGraw-Hill Education.

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DJ

Feb 17 6:56pm

Reply from Daniels, Jacob

I agree with you Madison, strategic vision is essential because it sets the long-term direction of an organization and gives employees a clear sense of purpose. It shapes the companys identity, outlines where the organization wants to be in the future and helps guide major decisions. When employees understand the vision, they are more likely to feel connected to the companys goals and motivated to contribute to its success.

In contrast, a mission statement focuses more on the present. It explains what the organization does, who it serves, and its core purpose right now. For example, Microsofts mission statement, To empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more, clearly shows its purpose but does not fully describe the specific path it will take in the future. The main difference is that the mission defines what the company does today, while the strategic vision defines where it is going tomorrow and provides a roadmap for long-term growth and success.

Thompson, Arthur A. Crafting & Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage: Concepts and Cases, 2024 Release. Available from: University of Wisconsin-Stout, McGraw-Hill Higher Education (US), 2021.

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Feb 20 4:26pm

| Last edited Feb 20 4:27pm

Reply from Bryant, Ian

Yes, Teagan I agree “Mission statements can be quite brief” as long as they accurately represent how a company represent themselves and the business they conduct. Reading through our book lead me to “A strategic vision offers little value to the organization unless its effectively communicated down the line to lower-level managers and employees. A vision cannot provide direction for middle managers or inspire and energize employees unless everyone in the company is familiar with it and can observe senior managements commitment to the vision. It is particularly important for executives to provide a compelling rationale for a dramatically new strategic vision and company direction. When company personnel dont understand or accept the need for redirecting organizational efforts, they are prone to resist change.” I find this especially relevant when it comes to older companies with deep values that date back to their original founders. If those core values are not held onto, I think back to “What would the founders think?” That’s why mission statements are important.

Works Cited

Thompson, Arthur A., et al. Crafting and Executing Strategy ; the Quest for Competitive Advantage : Concepts and Cases. 24th ed., Mcgraw-Hill, 2024.

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Feb 11 2:15pm

Reply from Kugel, Brooke

I agree with your point that a strategic vision is very important because it gives the company a clear direction for the future. Without it, employees and managers may not understand where the company is headed, which can lead to confusion and disengagement, like you mentioned from the Forbes article. A well-communicated vision helps everyone in the organization see their role in reaching long-term goals, and it can also strengthen the connection with customers and stockholders.

I also see your point about mission statements, but I would say they serve a different role. Mission statements focus more on the present purpose of the company, while the strategic vision looks ahead. Both are important, but I agree that the vision might have a bigger impact on motivating employees and guiding long-term strategy, especially in a time when engagement and clarity are key issues.

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WM

Feb 11 6:10pm

Reply from Wengelski, Megan

To build off my classmates ideas, the vision statement of a company is the more important component of charting an organizations direction. From looking at Thompsons definition of the vision statement, it is clear that it is the fundamental idea that drives the company. As most of my classmates have pointed out, the mission statement is simply what the company is striving for now, but the vision is the heart of company operations. A good strategy only goes so far if there is no ultimate goal (vision) for the company.

The beginning of the chapter includes a quote from professor and consultant Ella L.J. Bell Smith that states: Before you plan how to get to where you want to go, you must first know why you are going and where you are going. The why is connected to the companys mission, while the where is all about its vision. This quote demonstrates the importance of the mission and vision statement, as well as the relationship between them. Both are important, but the vision creates direction.

References:

Thompson, Arthur A. Crafting & Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage: Concepts and Cases, 2024 Release. Available from: University of Wisconsin-Stout, McGraw-Hill Higher Education (US), 2021.

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Feb 11 10:13pm

Reply from Graham, Allison

I agree with the initial post stating that a strategic vision is more important than a mission statement. A strategic vision is more focused and centered on an organizations goals with relation to their guests as well as their employees, whereas a mission statement is more relative to an organizations current goals and doesnt look ahead. A mission statement also can be vague and not provide a solid enough foundation for an organization to base their goals on. A strategic vision provides a foundation for an organization by being distinctive and specific (Thompson, p. 24).

As Thompson states, understanding where a company is going and why molds organizational identity (Thompson, p. 24); this demonstrates how a strategic vision aids in the organizational culture of a company or business, guiding employees toward the desired goal. I agree with Caleb as he mentioned how a strategic vision inspires innovation; I think this kind of method encourages new ways of reaching goals and building efficiency within an organization (when good communication on every level is involved). Its also important to note that a strategic vision not only states where a company is going but also why, and a mission statement tends not to include the why.

Thompson, A. A. (2021). Crafting & executing strategy: The quest for competitive advantage: Concepts and cases (2024 release). McGraw-Hill Education.

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Feb 11 10:29pm

Reply from Graham, Kaitlin

With what has been discussed thus far amongst everyone, I can agree that the strategic vision statement is the most important component of charting an organizations direction. I think it overall provides more complexity and character for a company, as leadership gets the chance to really dive into where they want to be in the years to come and how they want that to be conveyed to others (like stakeholders, employees, customers, etc.). I agree with Jacksons emphasis on the important connection of how if leadership understands the company on a more profound level through a well-conceived vision statement, then it opens the door for growth opportunities; a vision statement helps drive strategic actions with a purpose as a company has a clear direction to work towards.

To add further to the discussion, I think that this type of statement gives companies a platform to stand out amongst their competitors on many levels, as the book states, Well-conceived visions are distinctive and specific to a particular organization; they avoid generic, feel-good statements… (Thompson, p. 24). Vision statements clarify a companys unique purpose, strengthen their brand, guide innovation and inspire customers as well as employees. Mission statements are weak in this sense, as they only help consumers understand what a company offers and how it operates. As Allison mentioned, its the why that really matters; it resonates with people so they can understand a company on a level beyond the surface. Overall, the vision statement provides that emotional backdrop, where the mission statement simply serves a more functional purpose with the companys roles and activities.

Thompson, A. A. (2021). Crafting & executing strategy: The quest for competitive advantage: Concepts and cases (2024 release). McGraw-Hill Education.

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Feb 12 1:45pm

Reply from Serum, Sydney

I agree with you that the strategic vision plays a critical role in guiding an organization’s long-term direction. As the textbook emphasizes in chapter 2, a strategic vision describes management’s aspirations for the company’s future and clarifies “where we are going” and why that direction makes sense. Without a clear vision, organizations can become reactive and short-sighted, focusing only on everyday operations rather than building sustainable competitive advantage. I also think your connection to employee engagement is important. When employees understand the long-term direction of the firm, they are more likely to see how their role contributes to something bigger.

At the same time, I would argue, the mission statement is slightly more foundational in charting the organization’s path. In this chapter, mission is defined as “who we are, what we do adn why we are here.” It clarifies the company’s present business scope, customer base, and core purpose. If an organization lacks clarity about its mission, the vision becomes unrealistic or disconnected from the actual capabilities of the organization.

Rather than seeing one or the other more important, I see them both as interdependent. The mission places the organization in its identity and competitive domain, where the vision stretches it to opportunity and growth. I agree with you that poorly written mission statements can weaken the impact, which may make the vision appear more influential. However, from a strategic standpoint, a clear mission statement ensures consistency in decision-making, while the vision directs future strategy.

Thompson, Arthur A. Crafting & Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage: Concepts and Cases, 2024 Release. Available from: University of Wisconsin-Stout, McGraw-Hill Higher Education (US), 2021.

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Feb 12 7:26pm

| Last edited Feb 12 7:30pm

Reply from Ambourn, Avery

Sydney, I completely agree that strategic vision is still important because it gives an organization a clear sense of where it is headed in the long run. When employees understand that direction, it is easier for them to see how their everyday work connects to something bigger, which can improve motivation and engagement. At the same time, I think the mission… [Content truncated to 3000 words]

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