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Does your mission statement have any value? An explorative analysis of the effectiveness of mission statements from a communication perspective

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  • S. DESMIDT
  • A. PRINZIE

Abstract

Convinced that it will improve their performance, the majority of public and non-profit organizations has developed a formal mission statement. However, despite its popularity, the assumed mission statement-performance hypothesis seems to be barely analyzed nor tested (Weiss and Piderit 1999). We addressed this issue by empirically examining the effectiveness of mission statements from an intra-organizational communication perspective and tested a theoretical rationale explaining the mission statement-performance hypothesis. The study results indicated that mission statements stimulate organizational members to engage in information conveyance and convergence processes, which prove to be positively related with the level of mission motivation. Higher levels of mission motivation, in turn, are assumed to be related with higher organizational performance.

Suggested Citation

  • S. Desmidt & A. Prinzie, 2009. "Does your mission statement have any value? An explorative analysis of the effectiveness of mission statements from a communication perspective," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 09/568, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    • Handle: RePEc:rug:rugwps:09/568
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    File URL: http://wps-feb.ugent.be/Papers/wp_09_568.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ireland, R. Duane & Hirc, Michael A., 1992. "Mission statements: Importance, challenge, and recommendations for development," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 35(3), pages 34-42.
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    4. Christopher Kenneth, Mark C. Bart Baetz, 1998. "The Relationship Between Mission Statements and Firm Performance: An Exploratory Study," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(6), pages 823-853, November.
    5. Shaila M. Miranda & Carol S. Saunders, 2003. "The Social Construction of Meaning: An Alternative Perspective on Information Sharing," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 14(1), pages 87-106, March.
    6. Bartkus, Barbara & Glassman, Myron & Bruce McAfee, R., 2000. "Mission statements: Are they smoke and mirrors?," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 43(6), pages 23-28.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jasmine Meysman & Sven H. Cleyn & Johan Braet, 2019. "Cash, community and coordination: the triple-C categorisation of technology transfer office organisational philosophy," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 815-835, September.
    2. TOH Seong-Yuen & KOON Vui-Yee, 2017. "Determining Mission Statement Effectiveness From A Fit Perspective," Studies in Business and Economics, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 12(2), pages 220-240, August.

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