Quote by Gene Kim
““We increase flow by making work visible, by reducing batch sizes and intervals of work, and by building quality in, preventing defects from being passed to downstream work centers. By””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Phoenix Project by Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, George Spafford, 2013
Improving workflow by visualizing work, shortening batches, and embedding quality reduces downstream defects.
In simple terms: Make work visible, smaller, and quality‑first to prevent problems later.
Key Takeaway
Apply lean practices to keep work transparent and high‑quality.
Themes
process improvement
lean
quality
visibility
Mood
practical
analytical
Type
technical
motivational
When to use this quote
- software development
- manufacturing
- project management
- team collaboration
Key Concepts
Kanban
batch size reduction
continuous improvement
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you make your work more visible?
- What batch size is optimal for your team?
A Different Perspective
Requires cultural change and disciplined execution.
![“Bill Baker, a distinguished engineer at Microsoft, quipped that we used to treat servers like pets: “You name them and when they get sick, you nurse them back to health. [Now] servers are [treated] like cattle. You number them and when they get sick, you shoot them.” quote by Gene Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e7b/gene-kim-2268_health_bill-baker-a-distinguished-engineer-at-m_187582.jpg)
