Jeff Sutherland quoting Dr. Deming‘s response to Peter Senge request for a comment on his book, The Fifth Discipline:
“Our prevailing system of management has destroyed our people. People are born with intrinsic motivation, self-respect, dignity, curiosity to learn, joy in learning. The forces of destruction begin with toddlers—a prize for the best halloween costume, grades in school, gold stars—and on up through the university. On the job, people, teams, and divisions are ranked, rewarded for the top, punished for the bottom. Management by Objectives, quotas, incentive pay, business plans, put together separately, division by division, cause further
loss, unknown and unknowable.”
loss, unknown and unknowable.”
See page 125 of New Economics, by W. Edwards Deming on the Forces of Destruction.
Related: Deming on Management – unknown and unknowable figures – Dangers of Extrinsic Motivation – Problems with Bonuses – Failed Personnel Practice: Forced Ranking
