47 quotes
A tool is not necessarily better because it is bigger. A tool is best if it does the job required with a minimum of effort, with a minimum of complexity, and with a minimum of power.
MANAGEMENT: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices (1973)
Engineers speak half–jokingly about Murphy's Law: " If anything can go wrong, it will." But complexity stands under a second law as well. Let me call it Drucker's law: "If one thing goes wrong, everything else will, and at the same time."
MANAGEMENT: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices (1973)
And no matter how serious an environmental problem the automobile poses in today's big city, the horse was dirtier, smelled worse, killed and maimed more people, and congested the streets just as much.
MANAGEMENT: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices (1973)
It has been said, and only half in jest, that a tough, professionally led union is a great force for improving management performance. It forces the manager to think about what he is doing and to be able to explain his actions and behavior.
MANAGEMENT: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices (1973)
Profit is not a cause but a result-
MANAGEMENT: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices (1973)
"Value added" is a meaningless concept for a retail business , for a bank, for a life insurance company, and for any other business which is not primarily engaged in manufacturing.
MANAGEMENT: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices (1973)
The citizen of today in every developed country is typically an employee. He works for one of the institutions. He looks to them for his livelihood. He looks to them for his opportunities. He looks to them for access to status and function in society, as well as for personal fulfillment and achievement.
MANAGEMENT: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices (1973)