Mad about Vision and Mission

Posted on | July 19, 2010 | No Comments

“If you don’t care where you’re going, then it doesn’t matter which way you go.” – Cheshire Cat, Alice in Wonderland

Never in my entire life, even in my entire career life that I cared so much about a company’s vision and mission. Don’t get me wrong, but yes I’ve read about my previous employer’s vision and mission, and at some point even remembered what it was all about. Retention of course was just brief. Very brief. However, this morning while killing time at an LTO office (did a favor for someone to register a motorcycle that was once mine), other than noticing the same old and flawed routine of this government institution, my restless eyes suddenly focused on a very interesting frame hanged in one conspicuous corner – LTO’s vision and mission statement.

As much as I consider myself being there as a way of relaxing (read: escape) away from my STRAMA paper works, I can’t help but analyze whether what I’m reading constitute a good vision and mission statement or not. Let’s see.

The Vision: The LTO envisions a model government agency showcasing excellent and quality public service for a progressive land transport sector.

The Mission: We are committed to work towards the rationalization of land transport services and facilities and implement effectively
the various transportation laws, rules and regulations. In partnership with other government agencies, the business sector, civil society and other stakeholders, we are determined to:

Put order on the road;
License quality drivers; and
Register roadworthy and emission compliant motor vehicles

Wow. Aren’t these strong and committed statements?

Model government agency, excellent and quality public service, rationalized services and facilities, effective implementation, order on the road, licensed quality drivers, roadworthy and compliant vehicles? What else should we look for? If I were some first time tourist and read this somewhere right after I landed in the Philippines, I’d even think that this is where I want to be — in a country where its transportation agency, among others, really means business. But since I’m not, it just made me wonder at the very least when these vision and mission statements were first made. If it were decades ago, then I’ll be damned.

Technically speaking, LTO’s vision passes the criteria of answering the question, “What do we want to become?” as defined by Fred R. David. A good vision statement, he said, tells people what an organization wants to achieve in the future which undoubtedly this statement says so.

LTO’s mission statement meanwhile lacks several components of a good mission statement as written in the book, Strategic Management Concepts and Cases by the abovementioned author. For one, it failed to explicitly state who its customers are and where these customers are supposed to be from – its intended market, that is. Does it cater to all Filipino citizens only? Is LTO’s service meant to cover the whole Philippines? Should the office act with equality or for the benefit of the majority? Such oversight made me at least understand why there are a lot of LTO personnel who are selective in their service and enforcement of the law. Does wang-wang and commemorative plate sound familiar?

The mission statement also didn’t mention anything about adapting to technological development which could explain why I heard the following over the emission testing’s loudspeaker, “kaliwa…kanana…angat ng konti…balik mo…baba mo ng konti…o ayan, ok na.” Still clueless what these directional instructions were all about? Well, it’s coming from someone in the office, probably comfortably sitting in front of the monitor while she instructs the one outside the emission center on how to focus the dirty web camera to the tailpipe of the motor vehicle being tested so that they can capture and document as part of the so called process. Now you might ask, “Can’t they get a decent new camera?” I had the same question last year. I won’t be surprised if I’ll be asking myself the same thing next year. But wait, there’s more.

Another component worth looking for is an offices’ concern for public image. Mr. David’s book defines it as one that will tell if the office is concerned with the society, community and the environment. Surprise! LTO’s mission statement has it, “put order on the road; license quality drivers; and, register roadworthy and emission compliant motor vehicles“. But if it has achieved it or is even near achieving it is an entirely different matter. It doesn’t take a skilled analyst or an investigator to prove that this one isn’t met, yet. All it takes is for one to go out on any busy street, stand there for a quarter of an hour (or even less) and he’ll definitely catch smoke belchers and other irresponsible drivers. Who knows if some of these may even have just renewed their motor vehicle registration? Furthermore, the prime time news haven’t been without reports of accidents due to brake failure (at least as claimed by erring drivers), motorcycle-related accidents, drunk driving, etcetera. These are problems that could have been addressed by LTO’s mission. But why are the statistics rising or why is it not going down significantly? Your guess is as good as mine.

Whew! I’d like to point out more and give details, of what LTO missed in its mission statement but it will be like doing a booklet, if not a book, rather than a blog just to do so. The point is that LTO is a classic example of a public office governed by an idealistic vision and a somehow complementing mission statement which unfortunately remains as just one useless artifact made to entertain bored customers rather than inspire the people working for the agency.

***

Vision and Mission tidbits:

*A lot of people are still confused about the difference between a vision and mission. Often times, people use it interchangeably. In fact, even long time managers mention it like this, “our mission and vision is…” That’s wrong. To say it properly, it should be, “our vision and mission is…” Vision comes first before Mission.

*Entrepreneurs (real and proven ones) are said to be those with very vivid visions. Most of them use all their senses in their vision of their future – they can see it, smell it, and even feel it.

*Interestingly, while entrepreneurs do have vivid vision and clear mission, most of it isn’t written. (I’ve listened to guest speakers in our class and they don’t even have business plans despite having a successful businesses. Entrepreneurs are weird, no?)

*While a vision statement answers, “what do you want to become?” a mission statement defines, “what is our business?” – Fred R. David

*That quote above from Alice in Wonderland was given as an example of our very stern and seemingly impeccable professor. I was once a fan of the Cheshire Cat.

***

Mood: 2/10 Honks! (now back to the real deal…still about the vision and mission statement)

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Marcus Can Blog

If you don't like it, blame daddy. If you like it, well, that's by me – Marcus.

Mad about Vision and Mission

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