Writing Quote by Frederick P. Brooks Jr
““Why Have Formal Documents? First, writing the decisions down is essential. Only when one writes do the gaps appear and the inconsistencies protrude. The act of writing turns out to require hundreds of mini-decisions, and it is the existence of these that distinguishes clear, exact policies from fuzzy ones. Second, the documents will communicate the decisions to others. The manager will be continually amazed that policies he took for common knowledge are totally unknown by some member of his team.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Mythical Man-Month, Frederick P. Brooks Jr., 1975
Writing decisions forces you to expose hidden gaps and inconsistencies, creating clear policies and shared understanding.
In simple terms: Writing reveals gaps and clarifies policies.
Key Takeaway
Write decisions to expose gaps and align team.
Themes
clarity
communication
decision-making
process
management
Mood
analytical
pragmatic
Type
instructional
professional
When to use this quote
- project planning
- team meetings
- policy drafting
- training sessions
- performance reviews
Key Concepts
systems thinking
knowledge management
policy design
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you ensure written policies are actually understood?
- What processes reinforce the written decisions?
A Different Perspective
Writing alone may not ensure adoption without follow‑up discussion.
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