Policies are organizational scar tissue. They are codified…
““Policies are organizational scar tissue. They are codified overreactions to situations that are unlikely to happen again. They are collective punishment for the misdeeds of an individual. This is how bureaucracies are born. No one sets out to create a bureaucracy. They sneak up on companies slowly. They are created one policy—one scar—at a time. So don’t scar on the first cut. Don’t create a policy because one person did something wrong once. Policies are only meant for situations that come up over and over again.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Policies arise as reactive scars to rare events, becoming bureaucratic burdens if over‑applied.
In simple terms: Policies should address recurring issues, not isolated incidents.
Key Takeaway
Create policies only for repeatable problems.
Themes
policy
bureaucracy
scar tissue
reactivity
organizational design
learning
Mood
analytical
pragmatic
skeptical
Type
observational
advice
When to use this quote
- company governance
- risk management
- HR procedures
Key Concepts
systems thinking
process improvement
organizational behavior
Questions to Reflect On
- When is a policy truly needed?
- How to keep policies flexible?
A Different Perspective
Excessive policies stifle agility; may ignore unique cases.