We explain what mission is, its meanings in various fields, and its general characteristics.
What is the mission?
The concept of mission is understood as the faculty or power given to one or more people to carry out a specific duty or assignment. Other times it is defined as the reason for being of something or someone. And on the other hand, this word is related to the action of sending.
The mission of a company
The mission, in the business field, refers to the objectives of a company, its activities, and how it works. In the business, missions are established:
- schedules
- Functions
- Media
- Purposes pursued.
The mission established by the company must be motivating, concrete, broad, and possible (realistic, not romantic).
For the authors O. C. Ferrel and Geoffrey Hirt, “The mission of an organization is its general purpose. It answers the question, what is the organization supposed to do?
Professor Rafael Muñiz Gonzales defines mission as “The company’s reason for being, conditions its present and future activities, provides unity, a sense of direction and guides strategic decision-making.”
The three authors Stanton, Etzel, and Walker define a mission: “States what customers you serve, what needs you satisfy and what types of products you offer. For its part, a mission statement indicates, in general terms, the limits of the organization’s activities.
people’s missions
Some authors speak of personal tasks.
This concept refers to the journey each person wishes to take throughout their life. This plan includes the activities carried out daily, the reason for them, and the main goals or objectives of each. A personal mission is a term linked to values. From there, the plans to be followed will be defined.
Some authors also emphasize the virtues of each person. They affirm that it is essential to know the passions and gifts to be able to use them in this life journey.
It is considered that personal missions are not static but rather daily personal choices, which allow modifications and adhesions to improve them and adapt them to the given situations. This orientation about desires and wills is the means to access success.
religious missions
When speaking of religious missions, reference is made to the pilgrimage of the faithful in different communities and even countries to preach the sacred word.
Usually, two types of missions are distinguished, those related to the transmission of the Church as an institution and others with the mission of God precisely and his word. This second is associated with the sending of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. One of the foundations of religious missions is a dialogue not only with other people but also in a discussion linked to the interior of the missionaries.
Some consider the missions as a process in which the word of God and the teachings of his son are transmitted, but some interpret them as a means by which the different cultures interact and enrich each other.
During colonial times, religious missions settled in different parts of America, especially in Latin America, to teach about their religion and give an account of their faith to the original peoples. They often settled in places that were very difficult to access in those times, for example, the missionary jungles in Argentina, and fulfilled the mission of evangelizing the natives.
