Competition should not be for a share of the market-but to expand the market.
W. Edwards DemingRead
Eliminate numerical quotas, including Management by Objectives.
Interpretation
Focusing on numerical targets can undermine quality and innovation. Shift the focus to process improvement instead.
W. Edwards Deming's quote emphasizes the detrimental effects of relying heavily on numerical quotas or Management by Objectives (MBO) in organizations. He argues that this approach can lead to a narrow focus on meeting specific targets rather than striving for continuous improvement and higher quality. By eliminating these quotas, organizations can foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and genuine progress, ultimately leading to better outcomes for both employees and customers.
In practice
During a leadership seminar on improving workplace culture.
Competition should not be for a share of the market-but to expand the market.
The job can't be finished only improved to please the customer.
Don't expect smart people to listen to you without proof.
Quality begins with the intent, which is fixed by management.
Learn the basics of analytics and people will love you. If you don't have time to learn, hire someone.
Just because you can measure everything doesn't mean that you should.
There's some evidence that if you're recruiting, you tend to recruit a mini-me. Then you have a very comfortable group round a table. You all think alike. You agree. People are arguing that the banking crisis was because too many of the relevant bodies were thinkalikes, and that if they'd had more diversity, maybe it wouldn't have happened.
Those in leadership positions who fail to grasp or use the power of stories risk failure for their companies and for themselves.
Great nations need organizing principles, and 'Don't do stupid stuff' is not an organizing principle.
If you believe in a security strategy - a strategy of more friends and fewer enemies, a strategy of greater cooperation and a strategy of keeping America better at home as we grow more diverse - we have to build the minds and hearts to build this kind of world.
There is no international problem that can be addressed or solved without the engagement and leadership of the United States and everybody in the world knows that, its just fact of life. So sometimes I think we could conduct ourselves with a little more humility.
In organizations, once you articulate how success will be measured, everybody tries to game the system so that they are measured in the best possible way.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.