A Summary of Mission Analysis: How to Understand a Mission Statement

When an entrepreneur envisions a new business, he or she starts with a mission statement subject to mission analysis, at some time in the future. Is the business mission statement on track? Are its previous goals still realistic? Is it really fulfilling the vision of the business owner?    

As an entrepreneur you may ask, ‘What is a mission statement?’

According to Missionstatements.com, “A mission statement defines in a paragraph or so any entity’s reason for existence. It embodies its philosophies, goals, ambitions and mores.”

A mission statement becomes the initial focus of every entrepreneur’s business plan and lays the basis for the business constructed around it. Periodically, the mission statement undergoes a mission analysis, or gap analysis.

What is a mission or gap analysis? 

According to business.com, a gap analysis is “a technique used to determine what steps need to be taken in order to move from its current state to its desired, future state.”

What does gap analysis consist of?

Businessdictionary.com suggests that gap analysis consists of characteristic factors pertinent to the current situation, first listing important factors needed to achieve mission objectives and then finding and filling any gaps that need to be rectified. It compares what is, to what should be.    

Since no mission statement is one hundred percent perfect or followed to the letter and a mission statement can be subject to many different interpretations, doing a mission analysis allows updating or revision with corrections, as well as changes to keep the business on track or expand its horizons further. Business goals change over the years.  

For an entrepreneur, writing an initial mission statement is not easy, but at the same time, when a mission statement has been properly constructed, it can save time, as well as prevent problems and avoid later revisions that may be necessary when a mission analysis is done. 

The following website, missionstatements.com offers some examples of typical mission statements, from which an entrepreneur can find a model depicting how to write a mission statement:

http://www.missionstatements.com/missionstatementresources/missionstatementcreator.html#

E-books about creating mission statements are available at the following web site:

http://www.missionstatements.com/missionstatementresources/e-books/

There are numerous kinds of mission statements including what is the most important for an entrepreneur, a personal mission statement. An entrepreneur with clarity of vision and insight into business ethics, principles and practice can go a long way and will succeed, as long as he or she has sufficient incentive or motivation. Taking a proactive stand in a positive, constructive direction, leads to mission statements that include others, sometimes on a global, humanitarian level.

Mission analysis of any mission statement, the steps taken towards goals and the results achieved often reveal the necessity for change. Mission statements are never cast in stone, so to speak and are flexible, as long as the entrepreneur is flexible and willing to grow and have his or her business developed further.

Horizons of mission statements are only as limited as the vision of the entrepreneur. The same is true of mission analysis. Its limitations are only those of an entrepreneur.