The Role of Mission and Values in Strategic Human Resource Management

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

Learning Objectives

• At the completion of this module, students 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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The Organization’s Mission and Values

Session 1

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: Assignment

• Assignment for next time :

> What does an organization say about itself? > How do we know it’s true?

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Living the Mission and Values

Session 2

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 and the Organization’s Mission

The Green Team at DPI Printing How do human resource functions reinforce the mission and values of the organization?

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Aligning Human Resource Functions with the Organization’s Mission

Session 3

The Green Team at DPI Printing

The Green Team at DPI Printing

The HR manager’s report

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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

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Mission

Strategic HRM Values