Our planning system was dynamite when we first put it in…
“Our planning system was dynamite when we first put it in. The thinking was fresh; the form mattered little. It was idea oriented. We then hired a head of planning, and he hired two vice presidents, and then he hired a planner; and the books got thicker, and the printing more sophisticated, and the covers got harder, and the drawings got better.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Initial planning was innovative and flexible, but later bureaucracy made it rigid and overcomplicated.
In simple terms: Early ideas were fresh, later became bloated.
Key Takeaway
Maintain agility and avoid unnecessary layers.
Themes
planning
bureaucracy
innovation
Mood
analytical
cautious
Type
business
leadership
When to use this quote
- corporate strategy
- project management
- startup scaling
Key Concepts
organizational design
process optimization
change management
Questions to Reflect On
- How can organizations stay lean?
- What processes add real value?
A Different Perspective
Complex structures can stifle creativity.