All companies and organizations, for or non-profit, public or private, are created for a purpose; be it to improve people's lives, fulfill a need, dominate a segment, improve on existing products, help humanity, etc.
In the case of businesses, their founders, owners or leaders develop products or services with a business purpose in mind, an ultimate goal and reason for being usually found in their mission statement. Business strategies are ideally anchored on this ultimate purpose. Employees alike join these companies, attracted to the company's business purposes in addition to their personal and professional goals.
Unless you live under a rock, you must have heard about Toyota's problems and Mr. Toyoda admitting that the company, the epitome of efficiency, had focused too much on expansion and ended up losing its direction. Howard Schultz, the founder of Starbucks, similarly stated that the coffee chain had grown too big and, therefore, also deviated from its original mission. It may sound like an excuse, but, there is certainly a lot of truth in their statements. No company can succeed if their strategy is not guided by their main business purpose.
Nikos Mourkogiannis, an strategic consultant to the likes of Johnson & Johnson, Alcatel and Braun and an authority on strategic leadership, speaks of 4 types of business purposes that drive most companies.
In the case of businesses, their founders, owners or leaders develop products or services with a business purpose in mind, an ultimate goal and reason for being usually found in their mission statement. Business strategies are ideally anchored on this ultimate purpose. Employees alike join these companies, attracted to the company's business purposes in addition to their personal and professional goals.
Unless you live under a rock, you must have heard about Toyota's problems and Mr. Toyoda admitting that the company, the epitome of efficiency, had focused too much on expansion and ended up losing its direction. Howard Schultz, the founder of Starbucks, similarly stated that the coffee chain had grown too big and, therefore, also deviated from its original mission. It may sound like an excuse, but, there is certainly a lot of truth in their statements. No company can succeed if their strategy is not guided by their main business purpose.
Nikos Mourkogiannis, an strategic consultant to the likes of Johnson & Johnson, Alcatel and Braun and an authority on strategic leadership, speaks of 4 types of business purposes that drive most companies.
Discovery: Here companies focus on idea creation, innovation, discovery, newness and setting new directions e.g. IBM, Apple, Google.
Excellence: These are enterprise that strive for excellence and uniqueness, seeking to be at the top and obtain adoration and following e.g. The Economist, BMW.
Altruism: Here the emphasis is on service, altruism, improving quality of life and relationships e.g. Pfizer, The Body Shop, Federal Express.
Results: Here companies fight to be heroes, obtain results, and totally dominate their segment e.g. Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, Ford.
Think for a minute: Who do you work for and what purpose drives your organization?
Another key question here: Are YOUR personal values in line with those of your organization?
Think for a minute: Who do you work for and what purpose drives your organization?
Another key question here: Are YOUR personal values in line with those of your organization?
No comments:
Post a Comment