Idea in Brief
The Definition
Corporate principles are distinct from mission, vision, and value statements. They guide decision-making, especially during crucible moments, and help companies explain their choices to key stakeholders.
The Design
To craft principles for your organization, identify its unique qualities. Draw insights from pivotal company decisions. Involve employees in drafting and refining principles, and align them with goals, key metrics, and budgets.
Examples
Box tells its employees to prioritize giving “access to all the files and information our users need to get work done from anywhere.” Tableau Software conveys its quality standards by declaring, “We won’t release a product until we would use it ourselves.” Patagonia adheres to its principle “Protect our home planet” by disallowing permanent third-party branding on its gear, which reduces reusability.
