Organizational Assessment

For the Organizational Assessment assignment I chose four companies that I have been affiliated with or would like to work for in my future. The four companies I chose to analyze are: Salvation Army, NBA, NFL, and NBC Universal. I will focus on the use of persuasive language and analyze how these companies also use this type of language in their mission statements.

A mission statement and vision statement is what a company uses to communicate why the company exists, their beliefs, what the company wants to become, and how they will achieve it. Both are there to help with the organization of the company’s goals and values. Many people believe that a mission statement is important when choosing to work with or for a company. It is a way to see if your values and beliefs connect with the company you are interested in.

For the first company I chose The Salvation Army specifically because I have volunteered for this organization before. When I volunteered for the annual holiday bell ringing for this organization I knew that I was helping a very good cause. I knew what The Salvation Army was about and I knew their beliefs were in God. Their mission statement focuses on God, the church, and the gospel of Christ, which is exactly what I was interested in. After reading The Salvation Army’s mission statement I noticed the intensifiers used in just one paragraph and that played off my emotion. The Salvation Army included phrases in their mission statement like the Love of God, human needs, international movement, and without discrimination which are apart of my belief system.

For the second company I chose the National Football Network otherwise known as the NFL. I love sports and the NFL is a company that I would love to work for in my future. Their missions and values page is much more elaborate than The Salvation Army. Their page included a mission and the various responsibilities of the NFL.

The third company I chose is the National Basketball Association also known as the NBA. I really enjoyed viewing the mission statement for the National Basketball Association. The graphics on the mission statement page really stood out to me. Their “calling,” also known as the mission statement mentions competing with intensity, leading with integrity, and to inspire play. The mission statement is fun and hooked me right away. I would say that their mission statement is very persuasive makes me want to work for this company. The NBA values integrity, teamwork, respect, and innovation.

The last company I chose is NBC Universal also known as NBC. NBC calls their mission statement “Credo,” which is another term for a belief system. The first thing I recognized in their “credo,” was the use of the word “We.” Nothing makes someone feel more wanted than the word “We.” The use of inclusive language by using the word we persuades the reader into having a sense of responsibility for the company. Using the word we makes the reader feel a part of the company. I recommend every company use inclusive language because I believe it boosts morale. After reading NBC’s mission statement I felt inspired and it made me want to put NBC at the very top of my career wish list. Having inclusive language helps the people at the company feel good about their job and the company they work for.

Each company I chose are all well known, huge, important companies all over the world which brings a huge responsibility. A responsibility that includes the CEOS, the employees, and most certainly the public. All four companies have an incredible amount of credibility, endorsements, and an image to uphold. Because of the large amount of each mentioned in the previous sentence, I don’t believe a welcome message in a mission statement is necessary for these four companies. The companies I chose do not have a welcome message and I don’t believe that a welcome message is always necessary. I would even say that many people already have an idea of the company and are not necessarily concerned with a welcome message. If someone is familiar with the company chances are a welcome message wont deter them from the company. If anything the mission statement alone will be enough to persuade a person to want to work for that specific company. That mission statement will be what the person working for the company holds on to. It will inspire and boost morale for the people working for the company. If everyone in the company is held to the same morals, values, and beliefs the company should flourish. Mission statements are not there just for the company’s sake. A person should always view a company’s mission statement before becoming affiliated. Knowing what they stand for and the goals they are striving to accomplish is very important, especially if you want to be a part of it.

http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/mission-statement (Links to an external site.)

http://www.nfl.com/careers/values (Links to an external site.)

http://www.nba.com/careers/executives/stern.html (Links to an external site.)

http://www.nbcunicareers.com/our-company/credo-history (Links to an external site.)

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