Read the Mission, Vision, and Value Statements . Required: Write two (2) Forum posts

The Value Statement

· affects ethical behavior of a company,

· is the basis of the company’s intentional activities.

Values can be defined as preferences concerning appropriate courses of actions or outcomes.

Corporate values reflect an organization’s sense of right and wrong or what "ought" to be. The values influence the behavior of the organization. Example: Equal rights for all; People should be treated with respect.

There are two basic types of value systems:

· Idealized value system are values that lack exceptions. They are absolute and can be codified as a strict set of prescriptions on behavior.

· Realized value system contains exceptions to resolve contradictions between values in practical circumstances. This type is what people tend to use in daily life.

Pitfalls in Value Statements - the values must naturally tie into your mission and vision and statements.

· Seeing values as separate from the corporate work actually done.

· Lack of conversation – not involving your stakeholders.

· Failure to connect values with mission or vision

· Failure to be descriptive – values must describe the essence or nature of the organization

· Lack of accountability – values that do not hold a corporation accountable is not trustworthy 

Value Statement Killers

The following 5 pointers are known to be corporate value killers. First, so many companies state these same values that they are no longer believable or unique. Second, by stating these values, you are stating the obvious. These values are the basis of the company’s intentional activities.

1. Ethical (or integrity) – Every company should operate ethically and with integrity – and by stating this concept as one of your core values, you raise the question of why you have to point it out.

2. Teamwork (or collaboration) – You shouldn’t need to tell your people to work together. If they’re not working collaboratively, listing it as a core value isn’t the solution.

3. Authentic – You can’t claim that you want to be authentic – you must simply be authentic. And your organization will be authentic if its leaders actually act and communicate in authentic ways.

4. Fun – Stating that you want your organization to embrace fun makes it seem like you’re trying too hard.

5. Customer-oriented (or customer-centric) – All companies should be focused on their customers’ wants and needs. Developing a core value that explains the unique way in which you engage with your customers would be far more meaningful.

Values List