麻豆传媒

College of Business E-Journal 

Fall 2025 Volume XX, Issue III

ISSN  number 2158-303X

I. Do The Fortune 50 Companies Have Convincing Mission Statements?  A Follow-up Study

ABSTRACT

Purpose

As a follow-up study, this essay aims to investigate the ideas and notion behind mission statements, their challenges and potential solutions, and their impact on organizational performance. Our analysis included an extensive literature review.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper explored the impact of mission statements on organizational performance, finding that well-written mission statements can improve financial performance, increase market share, and enhance competitiveness.

Findings

The findings revealed in this study that mission statements are a complex process that involves multiple stages, including planning, communication, resource allocation, and monitoring and evaluation. This paper also identified several challenges to well-written mission statements, such as resistance to change, lack of employee involvement, and inadequate resources. However, the analysis also highlights potential solutions, such as creating a sense of urgency, engaging employees in the implementation process, and allocating adequate resources.  The investigation further revealed, once again, that well-written mission statements require a strong leadership team, clear communication, and effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.

Originality

The value of this report lies in its contribution to the literature on mission statements, providing insights into the challenges and potential solutions that can enhance organizational performance. The findings can also inform practitioners and managers in various industries, helping them to develop effective strategies and implementation plans. Finally, this study underscores the importance of well-written mission statements as a critical factor in organizational success.

Key Words:  mission statements, senior-level leaders, strategic management, strategy

by

James Ike Schaap, Ph.D.

Adjunct Associate Professor
California State University, Monterey Bay

jjschaap@charter.net 

&

Jonathan Breiter, MBA

Lecturer Level II
University of Nevada, Reno @ Lake Tahoe

jonathanbreiter@unr.edu

 II. Pride Before the Fall: The Consumer Rebellion and Market Turmoil of June 2023 that Altered the Corporate Trajectory

ABSTRACT

By all accounts, 2023 was expected to usher in a new era of optimism1. The nation was emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic which, through mandated isolation, had compromised collective mental health and paralyzed industry2. Following a protracted term of paying compulsory above-average salaries for entry-level positions to remain viable that drove a rising tide of wage-push inflation3, businesses large and small shared a sigh of relief as then-President Biden officially brought the years-long public health emergency to a close4. 

With the economic recovery in full swing, retailers looked ahead to the series of upcoming events that could all but guarantee lucrative, albeit seasonal, windfalls to expedite financial revival. The combination of Valentine’s Day, Easter, and Mother’s Day is a predictive financial barometer that influences market forecasts for the remainder of the year5 6 7. Between these and the frenetic winter spending of Thanksgiving and Christmas lie the summer celebrations of Pride Month, Independence Day, and Labor Day to sustain a continuous holiday revenue cycle. 

Pride Month, celebrated in June, has become a corporate spectacle on par with Halloween and Christmas. Industry titans Apple, Coca-Cola, Google, and Walt Disney devote entire divisions to lure over 17 million potential customers holding more than $1 trillion in buying power8. With extensive merchandising and advertising campaigns prepared months in advance of the global festivities, there were no indicators that 2023 would be less lucrative than previous years. 

And then, in April, the world met Dylan Mulvaney. 

Mulvaney, a social media personality known for the online “Days of Girlhood” video series, garnered significant controversy for posting endorsements with Anheuser-Busch, Nike, and Maybelline9 10. The ensuing boycotts, resulting in billions in losses and unprecedented reputational harm, both to the businesses and Mulvaney, was the beginning of a paradigm shift that, unlike previous episodes of organizations angering specific consumer groups, was unique in provoking the indignation of those both in support and opposition to Pride. 

Although Mulvaney may hold the unenviable distinction as the catalyst of the anti-Pride movement of 2023, the increasingly amplified disagreement surrounding that year’s Pride Month compelled the business world to examine how even the best-planned strategies can have far-reaching consequences that resonate indefinitely. How can General Motors sell trucks to rugged cowboys and simultaneously celebrate Pride month11 with no problem while Anheuser-Busch and others flounder? In the aftermath of Pride 2023, the question of what involvement in social issues is appropriate commands consideration of the broader impact of such values as politics and religion that guide decisions when buying. Comparing 2023 and 2024 will reveal what has changed, what has remained the same regarding profits and losses, and where lies any balance of connecting with certain consumer segments without alienating others. 

by

Wade Siers