When should an operations mission statement be developed?

• A. Before goals are developed
• B. After goals are developed
• C. During implementation
• D. After evaluation

Answer: (A)

Establishing the operations mission statement first provides a clear sense of purpose, scope, and service standards that guide every planning step. When the mission is set before goals, those goals are grounded in the operation’s reason for existence, ensuring decisions, resources, and guest experiences align with that purpose. If you wait until after goals are developed, the goals may reflect initial ideas without a unifying direction, risking misalignment with the overall mission. Developing the mission during implementation or after evaluation means it wouldn’t shape design or performance criteria in time to guide actions, reducing consistency and focus.