Mission-Driven Organization

A Mission-Driven Organization is an organization whose behaviors, strategies, and decision-making processes are driven by an organizational mission.

• Context:
  • It can (typically) prioritize its Organization Mission (often over financial gain), ensuring that all activities align with its core values and goals.
  • It can (typically) engage in Organizational Ethical Practices, reflecting its commitment to its mission in all aspects of its operations.
  • It can (typically) Form Partnerships with other organizations that share similar values or goals, expanding its impact through collaboration.
  • It can (often) attract Mission-Driven Employees and members who share a deep commitment to the organization's mission, fostering a strong sense of purpose and community.
  • It can (often) rely on Innovative Approaches to solve complex problems that align with its mission, demonstrating adaptability and creativity in its strategy.
  • It can (often) measure success by the extent to which it fulfills its mission and positively impacts society or the environment.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • A Mission-Driven Non-Profit Organization (non-profit org.), such as:
    • Doctors Without Borders, which is dedicated to providing medical aid where it's needed most, regardless of race, religion, or political affiliation.
    • The Wikimedia Foundation, which supports and hosts Wikipedia and other free-knowledge projects.
    • ...
  • A Mission-Driven Social Enterprise, such as:
    • TOMS Shoes, which uses a one-for-one model, donating a pair of shoes for every pair sold to people in need.
    • Warby Parker, which applies a similar model to eyewear, contributing to vision services for each pair of glasses sold.
    • ...
  • A Mission-Driven Healthcare Organization, such as:
    • Mayo Clinic, focused on integrated clinical practice, education, and research to provide expert, whole-person care.
    • Kaiser Permanente, a healthcare organization that emphasizes preventive care and affordable treatment aligned with its mission to support community health.
    • ...
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Profit-Driven Organizations.
  • Shareholder-Driven Organization.
  • Customer-Driven Organization.
  • Mission-Driven Person.
• See: Government Organization, For-Profit Organization.

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References

2023

• (Johnson, 2023) ⇒ [[::Claire Hughes Johnson]]. ([[::2023]]). “ Scaling People: Tactics for Management and Company Building.” Stripe Press. ISBN:9781953953214
  • NOTE: The book emphasizes the importance of aligning mission, values, and goals, making it a valuable resource for mission-driven organizations where shared purpose drives organizational decision-making and organizational culture.

1993

• (Osborne, 1993) ⇒ David Osborne. (1993). “Reinventing Government.” In: Public Productivity & Management Review Journal, 16(4). doi:10.2307/3381012
  • QUOTE: Those are six of the principles that we found in our investigations. Entrepreneurial governments are catalytic, competitive, mission driven, results oriented, customer driven, and enterprising. The other four principles are equally commonsensical. Decentralization means empowering employees, pushing decisions down from one level of government to another. Community-owned government pushes control out of bureaucracy and into the community. Anticipatory government stresses prevention rather than cure.

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