(COMPLETE ANSWERS)
Semester 2 2025 - DUE
September 2025
FOR FURTHER ASSISATANCE
, 1. (a) Vision Statement vs Mission Statement
A vision statement describes an organisation’s long-term aspirations, painting a picture of what
it ultimately seeks to achieve. It is future-focused, inspirational, and often deliberately broad so
that it can act as a guiding star for the company’s strategic journey. The vision statement answers
the question: “Where do we want to go?” For Clicks Group Limited, the vision is to become
“the leading health and beauty retailer, driven by a commitment to sustainability and
excellence.” This statement does not describe what the company does on a day-to-day basis but
rather sets out a clear aspirational position for the future. It reflects ambition, competitiveness,
and a commitment to leadership within the South African retail and healthcare landscape.
A mission statement, on the other hand, is more practical and operational in nature. It defines
the company’s purpose in the present — what the organisation does, how it does it, and for
whom. In this way, the mission statement provides direction for employees, stakeholders, and
customers, ensuring everyone is aligned with the business’s short- and medium-term priorities.
Clicks Group’s mission is to “create sustainable value by providing high-quality, accessible
healthcare products and services.” Unlike the vision, which is about the future, this mission is
anchored in the company’s daily activities. It highlights both the value proposition (sustainable
value creation) and the target stakeholders (healthcare consumers).
By comparing the two statements, it becomes clear that the vision inspires while the mission
operationalises. Together, they form the cornerstone of Clicks’ strategic planning process.
1. (b) Lorraine Mthombeni’s Management Level
Ms Lorraine Mthombeni, a store manager at one of the Clicks outlets in Pretoria, occupies a
middle-management position within the broader organisational structure. Middle managers act
as a bridge between senior executives — who focus on strategy and long-term growth — and
frontline employees, who implement day-to-day operations.
In her role, Lorraine has a diverse set of responsibilities. First, she is directly accountable for the
operational performance of the store. This means she must ensure that sales targets are met,
stock levels are properly managed, and customer service standards remain high. She is also
responsible for human resource management at store level — supervising pharmacists, shop
assistants, cashiers, and clinic nurses, while also providing training, mentorship, and
performance appraisals.