"Every company with employees acting in their own responsibility needs a mission statement based on a vision", Martin Borsik, managing director of VeMEMaS GmbH is convinced. "How this golden thread is referred to, is secondary! Above all, it is important that the employees know which aims the company pursues, which strategies are used and for which ethical values the company stands."

The mission statement functions like a railing in the company offering a secure hold to the employees: it shows the objective of the company on the horizon, leads the way to this objective, and offers recommendations for action and support for decision-taking. Consequently, everybody in the company knows what is good for the company, what is needed and why. Therefore a mission statement is not just an important tool for personnel management but presents at the same time the golden thread for internal and external communication.

For working with such a tool successfully, it will not be sufficient to write down some noble values - intensive preliminary work is necessary: the management team must analyze the current situation, define the objective precisely and clarify all terms clearly.
"Employees and management must speak the same language", says VeMEMaS managing director Martin Borsik. "What do terms such as sustainability or partnership mean for the company - and how can the values described be implemented in the industry and in daily business?"

Not only the management, but also the employees of a company should shape the mission statement: They are aware of the processes involved in daily business and know what can be implemented and in which way. In addition to this, by integrating the employees, greater acceptance is achieved: identification with the mission statement, commitment and motivation will increase.

A mission statement will stand and fall with those responsible for its development and bringing it to life. After five to eight years, so many things have usually changed in a company owing to fluctuation, different economic situation and new overall situation, that it is necessary to start a new discussion. Only in this way, the vision can be adapted to the new circumstances and the mission statement updated.

This process, in turn, is the precondition for motivating the employees anew and providing them with new directions for the current mission statement: after all, what is the use of a management instrument yellowing on the notice board!

Responsible for press information and enquiries:

Janina Krah

Telephone +49(0)7031 - 688-40-18
j.krah(at)vememas(dot)de