We are responsible

We believe our first responsibility is to the (...),
to mothers and fathers and all others who use our products and services.
In meeting their needs everything we do must be of high quality.
We must constantly strive to reduce our costs
in order to maintain reasonable prices.
Customers' orders must be serviced promptly and accurately.
Our suppliers and distributors must have an opportunity
to make a fair profit.

We are responsible to our employees,
the men and women who work with us throughout the world.
Everyone must be considered as an individual.
We must respect their dignity and recognize their merit.
They must have a sense of security in their jobs.
Compensation must be fair and adequate,
and working conditions clean, orderly and safe.
We must be mindful of ways to help our employees fulfill
their family responsibilities.
Employees must feel free to make suggestions and complaints.
There must be equal opportunity for employment, development
and advancement for those qualified.
We must provide competent management,
and their actions must be just and ethical.

We are responsible to the communities in which we live and work
and to the world community as well.
We must be good citizens – support good works and charities
and bear our fair share of taxes.
We must encourage civic improvements and better health and education.
We must maintain in good order
the property we are privileged to use,
protecting the environment and natural resources.

Our final responsibility is to our stockholders.
Business must make a sound profit.
We must experiment with new ideas.
Research must be carried on, innovative programs developed
and mistakes paid for.
New equipment must be purchased, new facilities provided
and new products launched.
Reserves must be created to provide for adverse times.
When we operate according to these principles,
the stockholders should realize a fair return.

Dit is het mission-statement van een welbekende internationale onderneming. Om geen reclame te maken heb ik in de eerste zin enkele woorden geschrapt. Ik heb die woorden ook geschrapt om duidelijk te maken dat deze tekst in feite voor zeer vele ondernemingen en organisaties kan (of zou moeten) gelden.

De tekst is geschreven in 1943 en is nog steeds van toepassing.

Ik ben verbluft (ik niet alleen trouwens) door de kwaliteit van de tekst : woorden die niet dubbelzinning zijn, duidelijk zeggen waar het op staat, leesbare en korte (!) zinnen, volgorde in de ideeën zodat het belangrijkste vooraan staat.

Ik ben verbluft bovendien omdat ik weet hoe moeilijk het is om als organisatie of onderneming duidelijke keuzes te maken en die bovendien nog eens mooi te formuleren.

Met dank aan het boek 'Levers of Organization Design' van Robert Simons - zie foto - waarin hij deze tekst bespreekt. Aanbevolen.