Company Is One of Its Most Important

¶ … company is one of its most important components, as it defines not only the purpose of the business, but also the basic values upon which the business purpose is based. As such, the mission statement serves to define the business at its most basic level (Berry, 2011). Specific questions that the mission statement addresses include who the company is, what it does, what it stands for, and the reason for the business. Some business solve problems, while others offer specific benefits. The two mission statements considered here include those of the College of Nursing at NYU and the Atlanta Medical Center. Both mission statements concern the specific purpose and premise of each respective institution.

The College of Nursing mission statement reads:

"The mission of the College of Nursing, as an integral part of a research-intensive private university "in the public service," is to generate new knowledge and educate future nursing professionals who in turn, demonstrate the highest standards of excellence in research, education and practice for a global society."

The first part of this mission statement: "…as an integral part of a research-intensive private university…" refers to the nature of the College as a research entity. Its main purpose is research, while it also functions "in the public service." Hence, the "new knowledge" referred to in this mission statement is not isolated from the public environment in which the institution functions. The research connects with the public by improving service as a result of new knowledge. Hence, nursing professionals emerging from the College demonstrate the highest standards not only in research and education, but also in practice.

According to the Business Resource Software, Inc. Website (2011), the mission statement should clearly and succinctly state the purpose of existence for the company in question. In the case of the institution, it is clear that the main purpose of the entity is research, as a result of which excellence in education and practice comes about. Other elements that should be included in the mission statement, according to Business Resource Software, Inc. (2011), are the moral and ethical position of the enterprise, its public image, the target market, the products and services, the geographic domain, and expectations of growth and profitability.

The College of Nursing mission statement address most of these. In terms of moral/ethical position, the aim of the institution is excellence in education and practice. This could also be taken as its public image. Its main product is research, while expectations of growth might be taken to refer to the increasing excellence of students that make use of its facilities.

The mission statement also adheres to criteria of generality, stating the purpose of the entity in the broadest terms; research to achieve excellence in education and practice. These are very important areas of the nursing profession, and therefore concerns the public image of the entity. In other words, nurses graduating from the institution are expected to uphold a high professional standard in the public eye.

When comparing the institution's mission statement with that of the Atlanta Medical Center, several differences reveal themselves almost immediately. The main difference is in the main service and purpose of each mission statement. Whereas the Institute of the NYU focuses upon theoretical research towards an ultimately practical aim, the Atlanta Medical Center's mission is primarily practical. It reads:

"The mission of Atlanta Medical Center is to provide primary and secondary care to residents of the community in which we are located, and to provide tertiary care to a large geographic area with an emphasis on the southern crescent of Atlanta. Our goals are: To be totally patient-focused; To have courteous, responsive and helpful employees; To provide a comfortable, safe and clean facility."

The main difference here lies in the service provided by the Atlanta Medical Center. Whereas the College of Nursing is primarily a theoretical, research-based institution, the service provided by the Medical Center is primarily practical. Also, more specifically than the College of Nursing, the Medical Center's mission statement provides a specific geographic area that it serves, emphasizing the southern crescent of Atlanta. Like the College, the goals fo the Medical Center is focused upon its main values. Because employees work directly with the public, the goals are strongly inclined towards the relationship that employees must build with the public.

Two similar points between both mission statements include the subject field of their products or services, and the excellence of their service to the public. Both, for example, focus on the field of nursing in achieving excellence in their respective relationships with the public. Also, both are focused upon their relationship with the public as the main or ultimate reason for their existence and professional development.