Difference Between Vision and Mission

“The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight but no vision.” ― Helen Keller

Introduction

We all are different people with different thoughts and ideas. We do things at our convenience and comfort. There are certain things that are acceptable to others and many are not. But that does not make any difference. We can grow and mature only when we see things from our perspective and do it as per our conviction. That is the only way by which new ideas will be generated & nurtured and will lead to the overall wisdom of the society growing.

Content:

Objective
Definitions
What is Vision
What is Mission
Key Differences
Conclusion

Objective

A vision represents the soul of a company—its reason for doing things other than just making money. Many successful companies use the vision to underpin everything they do.

A mission, in other words, is an assignment—a set of tasks that need doing in service of a wider ambition. With the vision of a better future to inspire them, the mission statement brings this idea closer to the real world, with a more practical and definite set of goals

Once you read this blog, you will understand, what is Vision, what is Mission, the difference between Vision and Mission, and how to effectively implement it in the organization.

Definition: ISO 9000: 2015

Vision (Cl 3.5.10): Aspiration of what an organization would like to become as expressed by top management.

Mission (Cl 3.5.11): Organization’s purpose for existing as expressed by the top management.

Strategy (Cl 3.5.12): Plan to achieve a long-term or overall objective

Detailed Information

The Mission statement is what the company is doing right now, while the Vision statement is what the organization hopes to achieve in the future – where the organization is at this moment versus where the organization is going.

Sometimes the terms “mission statement” and “vision statement” are used interchangeably or even combined into a single statement. But they mean two very different things.

It’s important to have both. One doesn’t work without the other, because having purpose and meaning are critical for any business.

Example: If someone asks you, “So, what do you do?” you might say, “I’m a software developer at a mid-size software company” or “I’m a Standup comedian.”

But what if they asked you, “What do you want to be doing five or 10 years from now?” Your answer might be a bit different.

Maybe you’d say, “My goal is to move into a management position where I oversee all of the company’s developers” or “ultimately, I’d like to be a world-famous standup comedian and the key entertainer at occasions like the Oscars.”

What is Vision?

Someone has rightly said, “A man without eyes is blind, but a man without a vision is dead.” A vision statement details where the organization aspires to go. A vision statement focuses on tomorrow and what an organization wants to ultimately become.

Vision Statement Questions:

What are our hopes and dreams?
What problem are we solving for the greater good?
Who and what are we inspiring to change?

Example of Vision Statement:

Tesla– Create the most compelling car company of the 21st century by driving the world’s transition to electric vehicles
Google– To provide access to the world’s information in one click
Hero MotoCorp – Be the future of mobility

Read More: http://bit.ly/SPCandMSA

What is Mission?

A mission statement defines the organization’s business, its objectives, and how it will reach these objectives. A mission statement focuses on today and what an organization does to achieve it. Both are vital in directing goals.

Mission Statement Questions:

What do we do?
Whom do we serve?
How do we serve them?

Example of Mission Statement:

Tesla– To accelerate the advent of sustainable transport by bringing compelling mass-market electric cars to market as soon as possible.
Google– To organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.
Hero MotoCorp – Create, Collaborate, Inspire

Difference Between Vision and Mission

There are certain dissimilarities and similarities between Vision and Mission Statement. Some of the key differences are as follows.

S.No.	Vision Statement	Mission Statement
1	The Vision statement discusses the desired position of the company in future	The Mission statement talks about the company’s business, purpose and approach to pursuing them
2	The Vision Statement remains the same till the company survives	The Mission Statement may change if required by the company
3	The Vision Statement is made to inspire	The Mission Statement is made to inform
4	The Vision Statement shows the company’s future aspirations	The Mission Statement explains the company’s core purpose
5	The Vision statement talks about something to be accomplished	The Mission statement talks about something to the pursued that accomplishment
6	The Vision statement is aimed to motivate the employees and the relevant stakeholders to see the value in their efforts	The Mission statement is aimed at both employees and customers

Conclusion

From the company’s point of view, both statements is essential for its survival and growth. The Vision and Mission Statement are closely interrelated. The mission is made by the company keeping the vision in mind. Therefore, we can say the vision is the effect, and the mission is its cause. The Mission Statement is a sort of representative one while the Vision Statement is predictive. Both statements must be clear, complete and correct in all respects as the whole future of the company depends on these two.

References:

ISO 9001: 2015

ISO 9002: 2016

ISO 9004: 2018

IATF 16949: 2016

Industry Experts

This is the 183^rd article of this Quality Management series. Every weekend, you will find useful information that will make your Management System journey Productive. Please share it with your colleagues too.

In the words of Albert Einstein, “The important thing is never to stop questioning.” I invite you to ask anything about the above subject. Questions and answers are the lifeblood of learning, and we are all learning. I will answer all questions to the best of my ability and promise to keep personal information confidential.

Your genuine feedback and response are extremely valuable. Please suggest topics for the coming weeks.

5 1 vote

Article Rating