Across tech companies large and small there's often confusion around the difference between a vision, mission, and strategy. On the surface might feel like semantics but I've found thinking about the distinctions to be very helpful for aligning teams.
Basically I've pulled out these definitions enough times that it seemed like time to write them all out:
- Vision is what the world looks like if you succeed. It paints a picture of the future state you're trying to achieve. It's an end state.
- Mission is why your organization exists. It's the fundamental purpose that should guide all decisions and actions.
- Strategy is how you can get there. It outlines the high-level approach you'll take to realize your vision and fulfill your mission.
So why is this confusing? For starters, having a purpose doesn't provide clarity on what the end state looks like. So a mission isn't really a substitute for a vision. To get to that end state you need a plan, that's what strategy is for. It's high level but not as much as mission and vision.
It might also help to go one step deeper and think about concrete objectives. The specific, measurable goals that support your strategy. They break down the bigger plan into actionable steps. This is where people get into acronyms like VMSO (Vision, Mission, Strategy, Objectives). Three concepts already enough, so let's not get too corporate-y here. (I'm probably already walking the line too much with this article.)
Instead I'll reference the poster Startup Vitamins made from one of my quotes: "Dream in Years, Plan in Months, Ship in Days." In the days of AI, it can feel like planning in months is too long but the higher level concept still holds up. Your dreams are the vision. Your plan is the strategy. Your set objectives and ship regularly to keep things moving toward the vision. Why do all this? cause of your mission. It's why you're there after all.