Competition should not be for a share of the market-but to expand the market.
W. Edwards DemingRead
People with targets and jobs dependent upon meeting them will probably meet the targets - even if they have to destroy the enterprise to do it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the potential dangers of rigidly pursuing targets at the expense of overall organizational health.
W. Edwards Deming points out that individuals or organizations focused solely on meeting specific targets may resort to destructive behaviors to achieve those goals. This commentary serves as a warning to prioritize sustainable practices over short-term gains, emphasizing that the method of achieving targets can be just as important as the targets themselves.
Themes
TargetsManagementPerformanceSustainabilityEnterprise
In practice
Example use cases
In a business seminar discussing the risks of target-based management.
More from W. Edwards Deming
All quotes βThe job can't be finished only improved to please the customer.
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Just because you can measure everything doesn't mean that you should.
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