Mission

It is a general statement of an organization's overall purpose and philosophy. The statement explains why the entity exists. It focuses on today; what the organization is now. The statement is the foundation for all other planning. It should not be changed often, but rather occasionally reassessed to ensure that it is still consistent with the organization.

The statement is usually only one or two sentences. It is easily understood and communicated. Employees should know be able to easily learn and know the mission of the organization.

Vision

This statement explains what the organization wants to become in the future. It focuses on tomorrow and presents a picture of the future that the organization hopes to achieve. The statement should not be abstract, but rather a concrete picture of a desire state.

Values

These are deeply held beliefs within an organization. They explain how an organization expects its employees to behave. They should remain consistent over time.

Conduct research to view examples of missions, visions, and values for several health care organizations. Make note of how each of these is written and the types of things that are included.