Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Impact of a Vision Statement

Can vision statements create problems for the organization
A vision is an overall dream or goal of what an organization expects to be in the future. A vision statement explains what a business or an organization is and what it can be in the future. A vision statement also explains how an organization should act while faced with various challenging issues. A vision statement is a catalyst for growth that compels an organization to move in a certain direction in its endeavors to achieve its dreams and long term goals. It has the potential of both creating and solving the problems for an organization (Mark, n. d).
  
Generally, a vision statement is used in solving problems that may arise in the course of conducting business. As mentioned earlier, a vision states the steps a business can take or how a business should act while faced with various situations mostly unpleasant ones. Vision statements outline the responsibility of an organization towards various stakeholders and the society in general. Using the vision statement, an organizations duty to the various stakeholders can be assessed and necessary steps taken to ensure that the duties and responsibilities are fulfilled or met at all times. Johnson and Johnson Company for example used their vision statement in solving problems they encountered. On realizations that some of the companys Tylenol was contaminated, the company ordered immediate removal of the product from the market. Part of the vision statement is to ensure that doctors, hospitals, nurses, mothers and all other individuals using the companys products were protected. In this scenario, the vision clearly indicated what had to be done and prompted the company to take necessary precautions (Docstoc, 2009).
  
A vision statement can also create problems for a company especially when it is unclear or ambiguous. A vision imposes some kind of obligation to an entity and this may lead to liability especially in times of emergencies. It can be used against by stakeholders by the various stakeholders it vows to protect. This happened when Intel was experiencing problems pertaining to the Pentium chip. Unlike the Johnsons case, Intel failed to act according to its vision and this raised uproar in the country (Bowman, 2008).
  
While a vision is an effective tool for achieving goals and helping an organization cope with various situations, it can also be a source of a companys downfall. The latter only occurs when an entity fails to act according to the stipulation of its vision statement and this may lead to a decrease in goodwill from the public.

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