Articulate Quote by Clayton Christensen
“In organizations, once you articulate how success will be measured, everybody tries to game the system so that they are measured in the best possible way.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Innovator’s Solution, 2003
When success metrics are defined, people tend to manipulate them to appear successful, often undermining true performance.
In simple terms: People game any once success is measured.
Key Takeaway
Design metrics that reflect real outcomes.
Themes
management
ethics
measurement
Mood
cautious
pragmatic
Type
strategic
inspirational
When to use this quote
- performance reviews
- sales targets
- project KPIs
- budget allocations
Key Concepts
Incentive design
performance metrics
organizational behavior
Questions to Reflect On
- What unintended behaviors might arise from current metrics?
- How can we balance simplicity and comprehensiveness?
A Different Perspective
Metrics can be gamed if they’re too narrow or poorly aligned with goals.
