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It is a mistake to assume that if everybody does his job, it will be all right. The whole system may be in trouble.
W. Edwards Deming
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote emphasizes that individual effort alone does not guarantee overall success and that systemic issues may still exist.

W. Edwards Deming's quote highlights the misconception that if each person performs their assigned tasks, the entire organization or system will function smoothly. It stresses the importance of looking beyond individual contributions and recognizing that the interconnections within a system can lead to broader challenges that need to be addressed collectively for true success.

Themes

SystemTeamworkCollaborationSuccessEffort

In practice

Example use cases

In a business meeting discussing project outcomes, one could use this quote to emphasize the need for holistic strategies.

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