Evaluating National Environmental Health Association’s (NEHA) Performance Management

A mission statement is what defines an organization’s reason for existing and is the foundation for everything they do (Aguinis, 2009). Furthermore, the vision statement is where the organization desires to be in the future (Cady, Wheeler, DeWolf, & Brodke, 2011). Therefore, it is important to make sure that the organization has a good mission and vision statement that is clear and concise. According to Aguinis (2009), an ideal mission and vision statement booth have eight different characteristics. The mission statement must describe what they do, their market, their unique benefits, what technology they use, concern for their survival, managerial philosophy, what public image they want, and their self-concept of business (Aguinis, 2009). In contrast, the vision statement must be brief, verifiable, bound by a timeline, current, focused, understandable, inspiring, and not easily attainable (Aguinis, 2009).

The National Environmental Health Association’s (NEHA) mission statement is “to advance the environmental health and protection professional for the purpose of providing a healthful environment for all” (NEHA, 2011, ¶ 1). In addition, NEHA does not have a vision statement. Instead, they have a strategic direction that focuses on directions and not destinations. It is the organization’s belief that by focusing on directions, it will allow them to change course quickly should a change be appropriate. In addition, NEHA’s strategic direction includes training, education, credentialing, advocacy, and organizational capacity (NEHA, 2011). Therefore, based on Aguinis’s criteria, NEHA’s mission statement is missing seven of the eight elements and only really addresses who their customers are, the environmental health and ...

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...ization is, where they are going, and how they plan to achieve it (Cady, Wheeler, DeWolf, & Brodke, 2011). Unfortunately, NEHA is lacking a real strategic direction since their mission statement is too vague and they have no vision for the future. While they have a strategic direction statement, it is not tied to a clear mission or vision so it is also not very useful in aligning the organization. For an organization to realize their full potential and to stay competitive, they must have a strong mission and vision statement. “A vision alone is only a dream. Coupled with a mission, the vision is a destination” (Dossenbach, 2001). NEHA must have a destination if they want to continue to be the association that the environmental health and protection specialist turns to for education, professional advancement, and knowledge of the environmental health field.