--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In large organizations there are discrete…" description: "\"In large organizations there are discrete functions. I do this; you do that. I swim in my lane; you swim in your lane. That can be very effective for c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76b/daniel-h-pink-1532_certain_in-large-organizations-there-are-discret_1959194.png" --- # In large organizations there are discrete functions. I do… ![“In large organizations there are discrete functions. I do this; you do that. I swim in my lane; you swim in your lane. That can be very effective for certain processes and in certain stable conditions. But it doesn't work in unstable conditions.” quote by Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76b/daniel-h-pink-1532_certain_in-large-organizations-there-are-discret_1959194.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76b/daniel-h-pink-1532_certain_in-large-organizations-there-are-discret_1959194.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76b/daniel-h-pink-1532_certain_in-large-organizations-there-are-discret_1959194.png) > “In large organizations there are discrete functions. I do this; you do that. I swim in my lane; you swim in your lane. That can be very effective for certain processes and in certain stable conditions. But it doesn't work in unstable conditions.” [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Specialized roles work well in stable settings but hinder adaptability when conditions change, requiring flexible collaboration. **In simple terms:** Rigid roles limit response to change. Key Takeaway Foster cross‑functional teamwork. Themes organization change management collaboration Mood analytical strategic Type theoretical practical When to use this quote - project launches - crisis response - innovation labs Key Concepts systems thinking role fluidity Questions to Reflect On - When should you break down silos? - How to balance expertise with flexibility? A Different Perspective Transitioning can cause conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Conditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conditions/) [Discrete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrete/) [Discrete Functions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrete-functions-3224515/) [Function](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function/) [Functions Swim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/functions-swim-3224513/) [Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lane/) [Lane Effective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lane-effective-3224516/) [Lanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lanes/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [Organizations Discrete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organizations-discrete-3224514/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Stable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stable/) [Swim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swim/) [Unstable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unstable/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [Winning has a joy and discrete purity to it that cannot be replaced by anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-bartlett-giamatti/winning-has-a-joy-and-discrete-purity-to-it-that-cannot-be-replaced/) [A. Bartlett Giamatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-bartlett-giamatti/) > [“if physics is much simpler to describe under the assumption that space is discrete, rather than continuous, is not this fact itself a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-smolin/if-physics-is-much-simpler-to-describe-under-the-assumption-that/) [Lee Smolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-smolin/) > [The full beauty of the subject of generating functions emerges only from tuning in on both channels: the discrete and the continuous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-wilf/the-full-beauty-of-the-subject-of-generating-functions-emerges-only/) [Herbert Wilf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-wilf/) > [The whole drift of my education goes to persuade me that the world of our present consciousness is only one out of many worlds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/the-whole-drift-of-my-education-goes-to-persuade-me-that-the-world-of/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Put down the weight of your aloneness and ease into the conversation. Pay attention to everything in the world as if it's alive. Realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-whyte/put-down-the-weight-of-your-aloneness-and-ease-into-the-conversation-2/) [David Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-whyte/) > [Time, among all concepts in the world of physics, puts up the greatest resistance to being dethroned from ideal continuum to the world of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-archibald-wheeler/time-among-all-concepts-in-the-world-of-physics-puts-up-the-greatest/) [John Archibald Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-archibald-wheeler/) > [Know what makes a sentence more than a random list, practice constructing sentences and explaining what you have done, and you will know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-fish/know-what-makes-a-sentence-more-than-a-random-list-practice/) [Stanley Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-fish/) > [Life is a constant creation. It is a moment by moment, instant by instant creation. I don’t mean by this that it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-low/life-is-a-constant-creation-it-is-a-moment-by-moment-instant-by/) [Albert Low](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-low/) > [With ordinary men the moments which are united in a close continuity out of the original discrete multiplicity are very few, and the course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/with-ordinary-men-the-moments-which-are-united-in-a-close-continuity/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [The mastery of one's phonemes may be compared to the violinist's mastery of fingering. The violin string lends itself to a continuous gradation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willard-van-orman-quine/the-mastery-of-one-s-phonemes-may-be-compared-to-the-violinist-s/) [Willard Van Orman Quine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willard-van-orman-quine/) > [I have no faith in our hypocritical, false, hysterical, uneducated and lazy intelligentsia when they suffer and complain: their oppression comes from within. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/i-have-no-faith-in-our-hypocritical-false-hysterical-uneducated-and/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [A discrete series is a series of terms each of which is empirically derived, each one of which is empirically true. And this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-oppen/a-discrete-series-is-a-series-of-terms-each-of-which-is-empirically/) [George Oppen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-oppen/) > [Chi-Os were ideal partners for all occasions. They were discrete, desirable, tactful, polite, and fun... Every mom dreamed of her son coming home with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/chi-os-were-ideal-partners-for-all-occasions-they-were-discrete/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [The books remind us that way down deep in our hearts, part of us knows that we are creatures of light and we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-books-remind-us-that-way-down-deep-in-our-hearts-part-of-us-knows/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [If you must be indiscrete, be discrete in your indiscretion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-you-must-be-indiscrete-be-discrete-in-your-indiscretion/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) ## More by Daniel H. Pink > [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“morning people to be pleasant, productive folks—“introverted,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/morning-people-to-be-pleasant-productive-folks-introverted/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“tweeters felt active, engaged, and hopeful—generally rose in the morning, plummeted in the afternoon”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/tweeters-felt-active-engaged-and-hopeful-generally-rose-in-the/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“The longer it takes for a boss to respond to their e-mails, the less satisfied people are with their leader.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-longer-it-takes-for-a-boss-to-respond-to-their-e-mails-the-less/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [For creative tasks, the best approach is often just to hire great people and get out of their way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/for-creative-tasks-the-best-approach-is-often-just-to-hire-great/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“The less evidence of extrinsic motivation during art school, the more success in professional art both several years after graduation and nearly twenty years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-less-evidence-of-extrinsic-motivation-during-art-school-the-more/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [If you look at the very best presidents, the most effective presidents, they were always decent salespeople. Ronald Reagan was an extremely effective salesman,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/if-you-look-at-the-very-best-presidents-the-most-effective-presidents/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“the more they chat and gossip—the more they get done”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-more-they-chat-and-gossip-the-more-they-get-done/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“continuing to think about job demands during breaks may result in strain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/continuing-to-think-about-job-demands-during-breaks-may-result-in/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“The quality of the problem that is found is a forerunner of the quality of the solution that is attained . . .” Getzels concluded.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-quality-of-the-problem-that-is-found-is-a-forerunner-of-the/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [When we make progress and get better at something, it is inherently motivating. In order for people to make progress, they have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/when-we-make-progress-and-get-better-at-something-it-is-inherently/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“innovation and creativity are greatest when we are not at our best”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/innovation-and-creativity-are-greatest-when-we-are-not-at-our-best/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“Temporal landmarks slow our thinking, allowing us to deliberate at a higher level and make better decisions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/temporal-landmarks-slow-our-thinking-allowing-us-to-deliberate-at-a/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“Jobs that offer autonomy but little challenge bore us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/jobs-that-offer-autonomy-but-little-challenge-bore-us/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“richest experiences in our lives aren’t when we’re clamoring for validation from others, but when we’re listening to our own voice—doing something that matters,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/richest-experiences-in-our-lives-aren-t-when-we-re-clamoring-for/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) [Explore all 230 Daniel H. Pink quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) ## More Certain quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [People don't always realize that a record is forever. It'll always be there under your name. You've got to be certain that it's right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-iero/people-don-t-always-realize-that-a-record-is-forever-it-ll-always-be/) [Frank Iero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-iero/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) [Riffat Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riffat-hassan/) > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/i-mean-those-people-who-are-interested-in-good-government-will/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [Why do we love certain homes, and why do they seem to love us? It is the warmth of our individual hearts reflected in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-robsjohn-gibbings/why-do-we-love-certain-homes-and-why-do-they-seem-to-love-us-it-is/) [T. H. 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