There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all. People who don't take risks generally make about two big mistakes a year. People who do take risks generally make about two big mistakes a year. Management means, in the last analysis, the substitution of thought for brawn and muscle, of knowledge for folklore and superstition, and of cooperation for force. . . Management by objectives works if you first think through your objectives. Ninety percent of the time you haven't. Quality in a product or service is not what the supplier puts in. It is what the customer gets out and is willing to pay for. A product is not quality because it is hard to make and costs a lot of money, as manufacturers typically believe. This is incompetence. Customers pay only for what is of use to them and gives them value. Nothing else constitutes quality. Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things. Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work. Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes; but no plans. |