Assignment 3: Leadership Analysis: Mission, Vision and Organizational Values Statements.

Community Care Alliance is a nonprofit organization providing support and care services to individuals and families in vulnerable situations, focusing on equity and social justice.

Go to:

• Community Care Alliance. (2023). https://www.communitycareri.org/Home.aspxLinks to an external site.

1. Identify how strategies can effectively address organizational change and how to remain agile and flexible in an environment of constant change.
2. Discuss the role of leadership in formulating and executing strategies in a changing world and how these influence culture and strategic direction.
3. Evaluate mission statements, vision statements, and strategic objectives at the organizational level.
4. Analyze how a nonprofit organization in social work integrates its commitment, social justice, and values into its operations to impact the community.

Establishing the vision, philosophy, goals, objectives, and values of the organization

Merriam-Webster (2023) defines administration or management as “the act or ability to control and make decisions about a business…”. To manage, planning, organizing, executing, and controlling an organization’s resources is applied to achieve defined objectives effectively and efficiently. Management also involves establishing strategies for coordinating and directing the efforts of a group of people within the organization.
Organizations play an indispensable role in the management process. An organization is an objective-driven entity structured to achieve results, such as standing out from the competition, making a profit, covering needs, or providing social welfare. Organizations use knowledge, people, and raw materials to execute tasks that meet these goals. There are governmental organizations and for-profit and non-profit (or non-governmental (NGO)) organizations (Hill & Jones, 2011). Strategic management, on the other hand, refers to the set of administrative decisions and actions that determine an organization’s long-term performance. To this end, organizations establish mission, vision, and values statements and define clear goals and objectives (Hitt, Ireland & Hoskisson, 2019).
Nowadays, many organizations develop a vision statement that answers the question, “What do we want to become?” The vision statement is considered the first step in strategic planning, even before developing a mission statement. Many vision statements consist of a single sentence or a quick phrase. For example, the vision statement for the Stokes Eye Clinic in South Carolina reads, “Our vision is to take care of your vision.”
A mission statement is a short, clear, and concise description of the foundation for an organization’s existence. Hill & Jones (2011) state that mission statements are “enduring statements of purpose that distinguish a company from other similar companies. A mission statement identifies the scope of a company’s operations in terms of product and market.” It answers the fundamental question that all strategists face: “What is our business?” It describes an organization’s values and priorities. Developing a mission statement forces strategists to think about the nature and scope of current operations and assess the potential attractiveness of future markets and activities. As an example, a mission statement may contain the following components: Our mission is [briefly describe the basis], with a commitment to [allude to core values, goals, or principles]. We work to [express what is expected to be achieved] through [include key approaches or activities]. We strive to [indicate the desired impact or outcome] with a focus on [identifying stakeholders or the community to serve].” Each mission statement is unique, will reflect the values and culture of the organization, and will provide clear direction for future actions and decisions. Hill and Jones (2011) summarize that a well-formulated mission statement describes an organization’s purpose, customers, products or services, markets, philosophy, and technology and reflects customer expectations. Mission statements identify the usefulness of a company’s products to its customers. 
Hitt, Ireland & Hoskisson (2019) define organizational values as fundamental statements and principles that guide an organization’s behavior and decisions. These values are the foundation for establishing the culture and identity of the organization. They provide an ethical foundation and the regulations that govern the actions and decisions of the entity. Generally, values are communicated through the mission statement. Some common organizational values are integrity, honesty, and transparency in all interactions and transactions; commitment to quality by presenting a focus on excellence and continuous improvement for the production of goods and services; innovation by encouraging creativity and the constant search for novel solutions; respect by recognizing and valuing diversity and treating all people with dignity;  teamwork that promotes collaboration and cooperation among team members; social responsibility in compliance with ethical and social obligations and contributing positively to the community and the environment; Customer-oriented because it focuses all decisions and efforts on the customer (Hill & Jones, 2011).
As for organizational goals and objectives, these are vital elements in an organization’s strategic planning. These are specific, quantifiable statements that an organization makes to achieve a desired outcome. Hill & Jones (2011) explain that objectives are measurable statements regarding time and quantity. They are more detailed and concrete than goals and are more limited in scope. As a general standard, objectives must meet SMART requirements. They must be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, a company might set an objective of increasing sales by 10% in the next quarter or reducing operating costs by 5% over the next year.
On the other hand, Hitt, Ireland & Hoskisson (2019) define organizational goals as broader statements that express what an organization aspires to achieve in the long term. Goals are more general and may include several specific objectives contributing to their achievement. They are usually aligned with the vision and mission. For example, a company could set a goal of becoming a market leader in its industry within the next five years or becoming a self-sustaining organization in the next decade.

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Attention to the Particular Needs of the Community 

Social management is no exception to strategic planning. Brickley et. Al. (2002) defines social management as the administration of programs, projects, and activities directly impacting communities and society. It can include areas such as community development, education, health, corporate social responsibility, and care for vulnerable populations, among others of a similar nature. For social management to be effective, it is essential to consider several strategies (Worthern et al., 2004):

• Community involvement: It means involving the community in decision-making and the planning of programs and projects. It involves listening to the community’s needs and concerns to design effective and beneficial programs.
  Strategic partnerships: Refers to collaborative arrangements between organizations, governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders interested in combining resources and expertise that can expand the offerings and impact of social programs.
  A Rights-based approach ensures that programs respect human rights and promote equality and social justice. This involves ensuring inclusivity and non-discrimination, as well as considering diversity.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: It is essential to implement monitoring and evaluation systems to measure the impact of social programs and adjust when necessary.
• Awareness and education: Develop awareness campaigns and educational programs to empower the community and encourage participation.
• Cultural Adaptation: Ensure culturally sensitive programs follow local norms and values.
• Sustainability: Design programs with a long-term approach that allows for the continuity of social benefits. This involves involving the community in training activities to sustain and improve the results of the programs.
• Transparency and accountability: Implement strategies that contribute to building trust through transparency in managing resources and communicating program results.
• Conflict Management: Develop strategies to manage and resolve conflicts peacefully and constructively in the community.
  Innovation and adaptation: Adapt strategies as circumstances change or better approaches are identified.
• Training: Provide training to social workers and staff involved in managing social programs to ensure necessary skills and knowledge.
• Social Impact Assessment: Measuring fundamental changes in the population’s quality of life from social programs.
  These strategies are critical to addressing real societal needs and challenges effectively and ensuring that programs have a positive and sustainable impact.

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Alignment of Programs with the Organizational Mission 

A program refers to a set of activities, projects, actions, or initiatives planned and organized in such a way as to achieve a specific objective or goal (Chen & Chen, 2005). Generally, government organizations, NGOs, and companies implement programs to solve problems or meet specific needs and organize them coherently to achieve predefined outcomes for individuals, groups, or the community. For example, a program may be an adult education initiative, a country’s vaccination project, an environmental pollution control program, or a health program for a company’s staff.
Brickley, J., et. Al. (2002) proposes that, for organizations to achieve their goals and objectives coherently and effectively, they must necessarily align the program’s purpose with the organizational mission. In other words, it means that the program is designed, implemented, and managed in line with the organization’s core values, goals, and objectives. This is achieved by following these basic steps (Brickley J. et al., 2002):

• Understand the organizational mission: Everyone must know, accept, and understand the organization’s values, goals, and primary purpose. 
  
• Define program objectives: Specific objectives should be clearly defined and associated with the organization’s mission. Consequently, the program should contribute directly to the mission and reflect the organization’s values.
  
• Establish relevant activities: Each action or initiative within the program should have a clear purpose and contribute to achieving the mission.
  
• Evaluate programs: This comprehensively analyzes the organization’s programs, projects, or activities. During this process, it is necessary to identify the link with the mission and whether they are contributing effectively to its fulfillment.
  
• Identify indicators of success: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are quantitative or qualitative measures that measure the progress and achievements of each program about the mission for informed decision-making. For example, some KPIs are monthly sales rate, staff turnover rate, customer satisfaction level, program response time, and number of participants in a program. 
  
• Allocate resources strategically: Ensure that resources, such as budget, staff, and time, are strategically allocated to support programs. This involves prioritizing resources for areas that contribute most significantly to the organization’s goals.
  
• Monitor execution and constantly evaluate it: Monitoring task execution quickly identifies any deviations from the mission and adjusts and adapts programs as needed to ensure they remain relevant and practical.
  
• Communicate appropriately internally and externally: The alignment of programs with the mission must be communicated both within the organization and to external audiences to strengthen cohesion and understanding among team members and stakeholders.
•  Provide training and development: Ongoing academic and professional development of staff ensures that they have the skills and knowledge required to implement programs effectively and in line with the mission.