Mission

__**Mission Components**__:
 * brevity and clarity of language (Drucker)
 * terms are understood, known, and supported by all constituents
 * not a component, but important in development - should be developed collaboratively (shared vision) (Drucker/DuFour and Eaker, 5)
 * communication about goals and progress updates to determine whether members are meeting that vision
 * calls to action by all (DuFour and Eaker, 5)
 * empowers followers
 * motivates and energizes people to take action
 * provides a clear vision so that individuals are able to act, make decisions, and problem-solve creatively and know that their actions are fully aligned (Wheatley)
 * creates a proactive orientation
 * gives direction to people
 * clear agenda for action
 * for a school - instructional focus (sedl.org)
 * goals, principles, and expectations for the entire (learning) community (Characteristics of Effective Schools)
 * provides a guiding force for daily operations
 * commitment to sustainability - mission should look long term and require growth (Wheatley)
 * promotes change in behavior throughout organization (DuFour and Eaker, 5)
 * can be used to modify policies, procedures, processes for alignment
 * clarifies essential purpose
 * helps change the culture of an organization (DuFour and Eaker, 6)
 * set standards of excellence (DuFour and Eaker, 5)
 * In education, this could be academic knowledge, skill, development, standards of the heart (Characteristics of Effective Schools)
 * "links education standards to teacher expectations and student performance" (Characteristics of Effective Schools) - might be tough to separate
 * ?? what do you think about focus on community and/or customer (for education would be on students, for business would be on serving needs of customers) (sedl.org)
 * students' educational needs should be a system's priority **This seems inherent under Essential Purpose..schools had better be focused on students, hotels on hospitality and customers, government on the people ;)**

__**Mission Scoring Tool/Rubric**__: It does focus on the future. || Yes: Excellence is quite an ideal to achieve that would require growth and change. Mission stretches far beyond the scope of a school year. It allows for a lot of discussion and additional goals focus on ensuring excellence. || Yes: Makes a strong statement about the goal of education for our 21st century students. || Yes: While I don't think it is specific enough, this school system is defining the standard of excellence as participating responsibly in the changing world. ||
 * **Organization** || **Brevity / Clarity of Language** || **Call to Action** || **Proactive / Provide Direction** || **Implies Growth & Change** || **Essential Purpose** || **Standards for Excellence** ||
 * //**Howard County Public Schools**// || No: Language not specific enough for students and teachers to define excellence. Will everyone know when mission is achieved? || Yes: Does require that all "ensure" excellence in order to "participate" in a changing world, but not very specific. || Not sure: There would need to be a definition of excellence to ensure that all stakeholders know what to strive for.
 * **//Comments://** Howard County has developed a very easy-to-remember mission statement that, for an educator, describes a lofty goal of ensuring excellence. However, this type of language does not define what excellence would "look like." It seems that the goal of this mission statement is merely preparing students to be responsible citizens in the changing world. While the mission statement sounds great (and I happen to know that Howard County Public Schools has a reputation of excellence and most likely "works this mission statement" daily), it is not specific enough for a new teacher, student, or parent to fully understand and envision the goal of this mission statement. ||
 * **//Courtyard by Marriott//** || Yes: Language is very clear and easily understood by employees and customers. || Yes: Clear expectations for the type of service and character of employees is included in the statement. || Yes: Statement provides employees a very clear expectation of accommodation appearance and service. || Yes: Mission makes it very easy to break down the necessary tasks needed to be addressed in order to realize vision as well. You can almost imagine what the staff meetings might be about while realizing the necessary changes to implement the mission. || Yes: Clearly describes the purpose of their business and the experience they want their customers to have. || Yes: Very specific standards provided for both the appearance and service of the business. ||
 * **//Comments://** |||||||||||| This mission statement is very specific about describing the experience and expectations that customers should expect. It provides a clear description about the specific areas of focus (both appearance and service). Both customer and employee would understand what to expect when visiting/working at a Courtyard by Marriott. ||

__ **Brevity and Clarity of Language:** __ Mission Statements attaining a Yes (MSAY) will use clear language that succinctly states the direction of the institution. The statement avoids empty words, uses language that is precise, while not being too vague and general. Through brevity and clarity, the statement will be accessible to all employees and stakeholders no matter their position. **//E.g//**//. We believe in physical fitness is essential, so all employees of ABC will exercise moderately regularly.// **//The verb "exercise" is clear and the language is straight forward--if you're a member of "ABC", you will exercise for 20 minutes, 5 times a week.//**
 * **Organization** || **Brevity / Clarity of Language** || **Call to Action** || **Proactive / Provide Direction** || **Implies Growth & Change** || **Essential Purpose** || **Standards for Excellence** ||
 * //**St. Mary's County Public Schools**// || No: language not accessible to student stakeholders;lacks specificity || Yes: does ask teachers/stakeholders to act with verbs "enable" and "develop" though these are weak || No: no direction to employees beyond "enabling" which is too general to provide specific action || Yes: student development beyond school calendar/enrollment || Yes: make strong citizens "diverse and changing world" || No: "develop potential" and "Responsible" and "Productive" ||
 * **//Comments://** While St. Mary's County Public School's mission statement directs the school toward creating life-long learners who are the best they can be, the direction is so general as to be cliche. Nothing specifically directs teachers/leaders to take action; using the 1st person pronouns "we" or "us" assigns responsibility. By revising for more direct action and revising the language to be accessible to teachers, administers, students, parents and community. Also, SMCPS needs to consider adding language that reaches for excellence. ||
 * **//Public Service Company of New Mexico//** || Yes: language is clear, concise, and easily understand by employees and customers || Yes: employees are "providing' the listed services || Yes: specifically directs the actions of employees to "provide electric service, energy information, and energy options" || Yes: implied growth according to needs as they may unfold and specific to what is needed by customers which may change over time || Yes: clearly the essential purpose is to satisfy the electric needs of customers || Yes: "success" that "best satisfy" ||
 * **//Comments://** |||||||||||| The language in this mission statement is clear and to the point. We know specifically what Public Service Company of New Mexico intends to accomplish. Not only will customers be satisfied with their electric service, they will also receive 'information" and "options" that seems offer the customers options by use of language "best satisfy their needs". Excellence is implied through stated goal of "success" and "best fits their needs". ||

__ **Call to Action:** __ MSAY provides a real and clear call to action for members of the institution. Direction for action through strong action verbs is clear and do-able by all stakeholders on a daily basis to improve and contribute to institution's mission. Mission Statements with vague exhortations or non-action verbs will not receive a Yes. Actions will focus on the big picture and will not be too limited in scope: **//E.g//**//.// We believe in physical fitness is essential, //so all employees of ABC will exercise moderately regularly//. //vs. Everyday, everyone will do 20 push-ups and walk 1 mile.// **//The first is a call for action with a do-able goal; the 2nd is clear but too specific for application to the whole institute.//**

__ **Proactive:** __ MSAY focus on the future or a vision of the institution of the institution at its best, through the use of future tense verbs such as "will" and "shall". The Mission Statement embodies the values and goals of the whole institution and clearly guides a new or expanded direction. While the Mission Statement was likely built on the goal of solving past problems, the Mission Statement avoids negative language and referring to past failures. **//E.g.//** //We believe in physical fitness is essential,// so all employees of ABC will exercise moderately regularly//.// //N//**//ote: The verb "will", directs employees to plan this action into their schedule every week. No mention is made of past failures of ABC Gym employees to be physically fit; no consequence is stated.//**

__ **Growth and Change:** __ MSAY is flexible enough to allow goals to evolve without being limited by the language of the Mission Statement. E.g. //We believe in physical fitness is essential,// so all employees of ABC will exercise moderately regularly//. **Note: Definitions of "moderate" and "regular" may change over time for physical fitness guidelines, and this statement allows for that growth and change.**//


 * __Essential Purpose:__ ** MSAY when grounded in solid values which allow the institution to change while remaining focused on the vision. The Mission Statement should clearly state values and actions that match the institutions: **//E.g. Schools education; Gyms make people fit; Hotels provide safe hospitality, etc.//**


 * __Standards for Excellence:__ ** MSAY when stating clearly a goal of excellence and/or success. The definition and measure of this excellence will be established through Goals statements and Action Plans; however, the Mission Statement uses language clearly states expectations beyond average. **//E.g. at ABC Gym, everyone--the day-care providers, janitor and receptionist will all exercise moderately 5 times a week, suggesting a level of excellence beyond normal expectation.//**

__Assignment of Mission Evaluations__ **:**

//Education:// Howard County Public Schools **- The Howard County Public School System will ensure excellence in teaching and learning so that each student will participate responsibly in a diverse and changing world.** //Business:// Courtyard By Marriott **- To provide economy and quality minded travelers with a premier, moderate priced lodging facility which is consistently perceived as clean, comfortable, well maintained, and attractive, staffed by friendly, attentive and efficient people**
 * Kelly Hammond -**

//Education:// St. Mary’s County Public Schools **- The mission of the St. Mary's County Public School System is to enable students to develop their intellectual and personal potential for a lifetime of learning and for responsible, productive participation in our diverse and changing world.** //Business:// Public Service Company of New Mexico **-** **Our mission is to work for the success of people we serve by providing our customers reliable electric service, energy information, and energy options that best satisfy their needs.**
 * Kellee Hill -**

Notes from this week's collaboration:

**What score scale will we use? Exceeds/Meets/Does Not Meet? Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory? Numeric (e.g. 1-4)?** //**Question:**// //how do we evaluate the collaboration in creating the tool?// //how about the sharing/communication of the mission?// //Do we need to have collaboration and communication as scored components?//
 * Hard to imagine what we would need to create in order to evaluate... what do you think of selecting our top components and creating a matrix? We could define each term and then evaluate our mission statements against that specific criteria. We could use our list above to define what we mean by each component. (We'll have to flesh that out a little more to be on the same page). Please edit the sample criteria so that we have consensus before we start to use the scoring tool.
 * good question..... I added above that this is not a component but an important part of the process. I'm thinking that this is more of the development and not part of our evaluation of the actual mission
 * I'm thinking it would be very difficult to look at someones' mission and determine the collaboration and communication
 * I think that these two pieces are probably bigger factors as we complete our assessment throughout the course and describe the process in detail
 * [] it seems like these areas would be more of a measure of visionary leadership (three stage process) rather than the actual mission

We COULD use the above matrix to use a Yes or No and any description/notes for each. What do you think? I think that simply reading a mission statement and not being involved in the process would not really allow us the opportunity to provide the mission a score (like a scale of 1-4). I think the mission statement either has the component or its missing. Thoughts? I'd suggest we give a yes o r no and then a SHORT explanation following each criteria??? I know we have to explain our ranking as part of the assignment. I think we have no way of knowing if the mission was collaborative or successful. Question.... after reading Gabriel and Farmer's article (very helpful for our assessment as well), I am wondering if we should also evaluate whether we think the "mission statements" are better described as __**vision**__ or **__mission__**. Thoughts? I'm trying not to peak below to the sample mission statements that we have selected, but it was quite interesting to read about the difference. I struggle with those differences always...even though I've read about the difference a million times. But our assignment is to judge these based on them being a mission...so I think that's what we must consider.
 * ** agree:) Don't think that all of the items will require much more than a Yes/No. **
 * ** Good point... We won't need to consider the difference for this part of our assignment, but it definitely helped to clarify for me. **

Note: I liked Gabriel and Farmer's explanation that a
 * vision is your school's goal (where you hope to see it in the future) - concise and easy to recall
 * mission proves an overview of the steps planned to achieve that future - lengthier and more explanatory in nature
 * encompasses values of the staff
 * actions school will take
 * areas it will address to achieve its vision

I'm going to re-read Farmer and Gabriel. .... and I'll be back with thoughts. But if we use 6 criteria and write a short rubric for defining the essentials for receiving a yes or no on each, we're good to go.
 * ** I don't know that we will need to create a rubric for each... I think as long as we organize those notes at the top of our page of what each component is described as. Can you look at how we have our notes grouped above and we will then be in agreement of what each of our "components" on our matrix is a measure of. **