
The strategic process, vision, mission & implementation
7 December 2022
Vision, mission, strategy and implementation are by definition concepts that belong to the idea of a ‘programmable, predictable’ future. The only question is whether that makes sense if a look into the future only produces a thick fog of ambiguity.
This post is mainly about two issues :
For both issues we try to answer the following questions :
Current Practices ?
These practices can be found in most organizations :
What stands out in this way of strategizing :
What is the ‘theory in use’ here ?
The cues pointing to the ‘control & containment’ paradigm are quite clear :
And what is the impact ?
The consequences of this theory in use are quite fundamental and affect the organization in its ability to develop sustainably. A few specific elements:
Dominant ideas on HR websites ?
A vision statement is a company’s road map, indicating what the company wants to become by setting a defined direction for the company’s growth. Vision statements undergo minimal revisions during the life of a business, unlike operational goals which may be updated from year-to-year. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vision_statement

Based on our expert sources’ advice, we’ve got some great tips for you: (1) Imagine how you want the business to be like in five to ten years. (2) Make sure that the statement is implying a clear focus for the business. (3) Ensure the statement is easily understood. https://www.lifehack.org
What could you do differently?
Alternatives split in three categories :
You can see below how this generative approach contrasts with the control paradigm.
Than the situation would be dramatically different :
Exemples ?
More Information
These links provide you with more info on generative images, distributed leadership and organizational dialogue and their impact on sustainable performance.
- Clement Leemans., (2020). Distributed Leadership E-book LINK
- Clement Leemans., (2017). Distributed Leadership. A powerful engine for organizational performance. LINK
- Move!., Website Dialogic Organizations. LINK
- Gervase Bushe., (2020). The Generative Change Model – creating the agile organization while dealing with a complex problem. From : The Dynamics of Creative Change. In : BMI series in Dialogical Organization Development. BMI Publishing. LINK
- Frederic Laloux., (2015). The future of management is Teal. Business+Strategy. LINK