3: Mission and Performance of Organizations

Background

One of the ways we can evaluate an organization is to examine how well it is delivering its mission in order to achieve its vision. Organization’s mission states why it exists while organization’s vision states what organization wants to create or accomplish (1). Based on the class readings and discussions, a good mission is when it includes organization’s purpose, goods and services it delivers, and organizational values. It is important to have a good mission in order to “build and communicate organization’s identity to internal and external stakeholders” as well as to “keep the organization cohesive and focused” (2). A good organizational vision, on the other hand, is when it includes a successful picture upon fulfilling its mission and is consistent with organizational values. It is important for all staff members to share the organization’s vision. Furthermore, a good vision “inspires people and uplifts their aspirations, builds common identity, and fosters long term commitment” (3).

NCRIC’s mission is “to help provide [undocumented and unaccompanied] children with the legal and social services necessary to navigate U.S. immigration courts” (4). The reason why NCRIC was created is because every year, over 7,000 unaccompanied immigrant children arrive in the U.S. seeking refuge from domestic abuse, gang violence, human trafficking, or poverty. Even though these children have the right to defend their cases, majority of these children go through immigration proceedings without having a chance to speak to an attorney, which then leads to voluntary deportation. Therefore, NCRIC decided to help these vulnerable children.

Unfortunately, the organization, as it is with organizational values, does not explicitly state its vision. However, from my experience as an immigration assistant, I believe that NCRIC’s vision are the two following statements:

• • All unaccompanied children have a legal representation and are provided with opportunities to defend their case in the court.

  • All unaccompanied children’s lives are safer and more secure.

Aside from mission and vision statements, all organizations should have a strategic plan in order to deliver its mission effectively. A good strategic planning is when it is adaptive to changing circumstances (5). One of the strategic plans that is stated in NCRIC’s website is holding pro-bono training across the country for potential volunteer attorneys (6).

Analysis

NCRIC’s mission statement suffices the qualification of a good mission statement for the most part; it includes the goods and services it provides--social and legal services; it states its purpose--to help provide and navigate; and it specifies the target audience--the undocumented, unaccompanied children. However, the mission statement lacks to include its organizational value/s. This is partly due to the absence of developing a list of core values the organization embraces.

Another shortfall of the organization is the absence of explicitly stating its vision statement. Having a good vision statement in place motivates and bonds staff members and encourages a long term commitment. Immigration assistants who has to listen to all the hardships and the journey of children, are subject to feel depressed and to lose focus or motivation. Therefore, it is important for NCRIC to state what the organization wants to create and hopes to see in the future.

NCRIC’s strategic plan, on the other hand, is one of the organization’s strengths. Its strategic plan of holding pro-bono training across the country for potential volunteer attorneys is a type of functional strategy and organizational strategy; it is a functional strategy because training lawyers affects the services of the organization, which impact NCRIC’s effectiveness; and it is an organizational strategy because by networking and collaborating with pro=bono lawyers, the organization strengthens its capacity and development. Another functional strategy of NCRIC that improves the organization’s efficiency and effectiveness is its filing system that sorts out the cases alphabetically and according to urgency. Moreover, there is a database system, in which everyone can share information and check the status of the case.

Recommendations

• • NCRIC should establish a vision statement that can be shared by all staff members and is aligned with the organization’s values.

  • NCRIC should develop a set of core values that reflects the organization’s mission and vision.

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(1) lecture slide week 4 Tuesday pp. 12-16

(2) Ibid. p. 12

(3) Ibid. p. 16

(4) http://uscri.refugees.org/site/PageNavigator/Childrens%20Center/atc_who_we_help

(5) lecture slide week 4 Tuesday p. 4

(6) http://uscri.refugees.org/site/PageNavigator/Childrens%20Center/atc_who_we_help