The Role of Mission and Values in

Strategic Human Resource Management

Myrna L. Gusdorf, MBA, SPHR,
and Sandra M. Reed, SPHR 2009
 Objectives

• At the completion of this, you will:

> Analyze mission and values statements from various
organizations.
> Link HR functions to an organization’s mission
statement.
> Assess organizational behavior as a reflection of the
organization’s mission statement.
> Formulate HR activities to reinforce the mission
statement.

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Organization’s Mission and Values
 Mission and Values

Why does your organization exist?

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 A Mission Statement

• Defines the organization’s purpose.

• Tells why the organization exists.
• Tells what the organization hopes to achieve in the
future.
• Resonates with employees and focuses energy.
• Shapes organizational culture and values.
• Adds focus, direction and a sense of purpose to
daily decisions.

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 Mission Statement

1. What is the organization’s purpose?

2. What is the organization’s business?
3. What are the organization’s values?

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 Mission Statement

What’s wrong with this mission

statement?

“Our mission is to continue to continually utilize

world-class intellectual capital so that we may
proactively maintain emerging content while
maintaining the highest standards.”

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 Mission Statement

“The American Red Cross, a humanitarian

organization led by volunteers and guided by its
Congressional Charter and the Fundamental
Principles of the International Red Cross
Movement, will provide relief to victims of disaster
and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond
to emergencies.”

Mission statement of the American Red Cross

www.redcross.org/services/govrel/0,1082,0_193_,00.html

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 Whose Mission Statement Is This?

“__________’s mission is to organize the world’s

information and make it universally accessible and
useful.”

“____________is to be one of the world's leading

producers and providers of entertainment and
information. We create happiness by providing the finest
in entertainment to people of all ages, everywhere.”

“Saving people money so they can live better. To

become the worldwide leader in retailing. Our first
responsibility is to provide all consumers with the best
products and services with guaranteed satisfaction
under one roof.”
_____________
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 The Role of HR in the Organization’s Mission

• Human resource functional areas:

> Strategic management and planning.
> Staffing.
> Human resource development.
> Compensation.
> Employee relations.
> Safety and health/risk management.

• The human resource environment:

> Legal compliance and EEOC.
> HR in global organizations.

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 Relating the Mission and Aligning with HR

• How do organizations relate their mission

statement to the public?

> What does the organization say about itself?

• How do HR functions align with mission and values?

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 Mission Statements in Action

• How do we recognize that a company is living its

mission statement?
> From a consumer point of view.
> From an employee point of view.

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Living the Mission and Values
 Living the Mission and Values

• What organization did you investigate?

• What does it say about itself?
• What do others say about the organization?

• Is it living its mission and values?

• What HR activities does it engage in that
reinforces its mission and values?

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 Wal-Mart’s Mission, Vision and Values

• Mission –
> “Saving people money so they can live better”.

• Three basic beliefs:

> Respect for the individual.
> Service to the customers.
> Strive for excellence.

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 Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price

• Is there congruence between what the

organization says in its mission and values
statement and what others say about it?

• What HR issues are discussed in this film?

• How does HR influence an organization’s

corporate citizenship?

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Aligning HR Functions with the
Organization’s Mission
 HR Practices in Alignment with Mission and Values

• What HR practices reinforce the mission and

values of the organization?
> Strategic management and planning
> Staffing
> Human resource development
> Compensation
> Employee relations
> Safety and health/risk management
> EEOC and legal compliance

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Strategic Human Resource Management

Mission

Strategic
Values
HRM

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 Thank You!

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Resource made available by SHRM US