---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In organizations, once you articulate how…"
description: "\"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 w..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/027/clayton-christensen-2433_articulate_in-organizations-once-you-articulate-how_3123786.jpg"
---

#  In organizations, once you articulate how success will be…

![“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.” quote by Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/027/clayton-christensen-2433_articulate_in-organizations-once-you-articulate-how_3123786.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/027/clayton-christensen-2433_articulate_in-organizations-once-you-articulate-how_3123786.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/027/clayton-christensen-2433_articulate_in-organizations-once-you-articulate-how_3123786.jpg)

> “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.”

[Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

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.

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