Business Quote by Donald A. Norman
“I think a successful company is one where everybody owns the same mission. Out of necessity, we divide ourselves up into discipline groups. But the goal when you are actually doing the work is to somehow forget what discipline group you are in and come together. So in that sense, nobody should own user experience; everybody should own it.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Design of Everyday Things, 2013
Successful companies unify mission across disciplines, sharing ownership of user experience.
In simple terms: All teams share the same goal.
Key Takeaway
Collaborate beyond departmental boundaries.
Themes
collaboration
mission
user experience
Mood
inspired
pragmatic
Type
strategic
organizational
When to use this quote
- product development
- customer service
- strategic planning
Key Concepts
cross‑functional teamwork
shared ownership
design thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you foster a culture of shared responsibility?
- What structures support cross‑disciplinary collaboration?
A Different Perspective
Departments may resist losing autonomy.
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