Project Mission Statement

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Mission Statements

What is a mission statement?

  • A Program’s Needs-goals-objectives
  • Getting to the heart of stating the problem
  • Do you understand what is needed and have some idea of where to begin?

Today’s words to the wise - Don’t assume that the original problem statement is best one, or even the right one.

Example – ARPANET was originally envisioned to connect widely dispersed computers, each having specialized capabilities, so that complex scientific problems could be solved. The real problem was not to connect the computers – each was virtually self-sufficient – but to connect the researchers via email so that ideas could be exchanged.

"Transmission of documents via telephone wires is possible in principle, but the apparatus required is so expensive that it will never become
a practical proposition."

-- Dennis Gabor, British physicist and author of Inventing the Future, 1962

Relationship to Design Rqmts

  • 1st step in requirements process
  • Simple statement of purpose of the system/device/product being developed
  • Discusses environment in which it operates
  • Special considerations
  • Establishes an understanding between the customer/client and the developer about what the product does or is for
  • It is the primary exhibit at the Systems Requirements Review (SRR)
  • Mission statements apply at any level –
  • Aircraft/spacecraft level
  • Subsystem level
  • Component level

Mission Statement - Elements

  • Brief description of the product capabilities with key customer benefits
  • Do not specify a specific product even though you know the general type of product involved
  • Assumptions and constraints that guide development efforts
  • Example - An affordable, reliable, attack vehicle to enhance Air Force operations (we can probably conclude that it will be an airplane, but not necessarily manned or unmanned or a fighter or a bomber)
  • Key business goals
  • Target markets for the product
  • Stakeholders

Mission statement - Elements

  • Key business goals
  • Cost, time, quality
  • Timing, financial performance, market share goals
  • Example - Serve as a major part of Air Force offensive operations for the next 20 years - compete with JSF – affordability

  • Target markets
  • Primary and secondary markets
  • Example - U. S. Air Force, allied air forces, U. S. Navy

  • Stakeholders
  • List everyone who has a “stake” in this project.
  • Who is affected by success or failure of this product?
  • Who is the “end user?”
  • Who makes the “buying decisions?”
  • Consider the needs of everyone who is influenced by the product.
  • Examples - Purchasers and users; manufacturing operations; service operations...

Mission Statement - Summary

  • A broad, qualitative statement of what can not be accomplished to satisfy a particular need.
  • Can have context statement
  • Not quantitative

FireSat Mission

An Example

Mission Statement - Firesat

Because forest fires have an increasing impact on recreation and commerce and ever higher public visibility, the US needs a more effective system to identify and monitor them. In addition, it would be desirable (but not required) to monitor forest fires for other nations; collect statistical data on fire outbreaks, spread, speed, and duration: and provide other forest management data.

Ultimately, the Forest Service’s fire-monitoring office and rangers in the field will use the data. Data flow and formats must meet the needs of both groups without specialized training and must allow them to respond promptly to changing conditions.

Mission Statement - Firesat

Context: Because forest fires have an increasing impact on recreation and commerce and ever increasing public visibility,

Broad Primary Need: the US needs a more effective system to identify and monitor forest fires.

Secondary Need: In addition, it would be desirable (but not required) to monitor forest fires for other nations; collect statistical data on fire outbreaks, spread, speed, and duration: and provide other forest management data.

Mission Statement - Firesat

Statement of Fact: Ultimately, the Forest Service’s fire-monitoring office and rangers in the field will use the data.

Further Need: Data flow and formats must meet the needs of both groups without specialized training and must allow them to respond promptly to changing conditions.

Fig 1-4

Mission Objectives - Firesat

  • Primary Objectives
  • To detect, identify and monitor forest fires throughout the US, including Alaska and Hawaii, in near real time.
  • Deliver processed data to user