What role do mission statements play in business?

Mission statements: an exercise in public relations or a key part of providing the direction that management and employees need as they go about their business?  The debate about the relevance and usefulness of mission statements has raged for many years.

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/qa-what-role-do-mission-statements-play-in-business

Mission statements

Whose mission statement is this?

“Our company exists to quickly and reliably coordinate virtual content without losing sight of our original goal to collaboratively create emerging data.”

or this?

We exist to create unique deliverables that we may improve our long-term ability to manufacture methods of empowerment.

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/mission-statement-bull-create-your-own

Bus 3 revision material

From tutor2u: http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/aqa-a2-business-buss3-revision-key-term-quiz-bank