--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What these organizations have in common…" description: "\"“What these organizations have in common is a high-trust culture that enables all departments to work together effectively, where all work is transpare..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a0/gene-kim-2268_excellence_what-these-organizations-have-in-common_855364.jpg" --- # What these organizations have in common is a high-trust… ![“What these organizations have in common is a high-trust culture that enables all departments to work together effectively, where all work is transparently prioritized and there is sufficient slack in the system to allow high-priority work to be completed quickly. This is, in part, enabled by…” quote by Gene Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a0/gene-kim-2268_excellence_what-these-organizations-have-in-common_855364.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a0/gene-kim-2268_excellence_what-these-organizations-have-in-common_855364.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a0/gene-kim-2268_excellence_what-these-organizations-have-in-common_855364.jpg) > ““What these organizations have in common is a high-trust culture that enables all departments to work together effectively, where all work is transparently prioritized and there is sufficient slack in the system to allow high-priority work to be completed quickly. This is, in part, enabled by automated self-service platforms that build quality into the products everyone is building.”” [Gene Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kim/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. High‑trust, transparent, and slack‑rich environments let teams collaborate efficiently, especially when automation embeds quality early. **In simple terms:** Trust, transparency, and slack enable fast, quality work. Key Takeaway Build trust, prioritize openly, and automate quality. Themes trust collaboration automation quality efficiency Mood optimistic pragmatic Type advisory inspirational When to use this quote - software development - IT operations - product teams - project management Key Concepts Lean DevOps Systems Thinking Questions to Reflect On - How can you increase trust in your team? - What slack does your workflow need? A Different Perspective Automation alone cannot fix cultural issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) [Work together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-together/) ## Related quotes > [“I have seen the consequences of attempting to shortcut this natural process of growth often in the business world, where executives attempt to “buy”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/i-have-seen-the-consequences-of-attempting-to-shortcut-this-natural/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [Better than anything else in our culture, it enables fathers and sons to speak on a level playing field while building up from within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thorn/better-than-anything-else-in-our-culture-it-enables-fathers-and-sons/) [John Thorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-thorn/) > [“You hire people you trust completely to do the job. Then you create a culture that enables them to do their best work. That’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-kenny/you-hire-people-you-trust-completely-to-do-the-job-then-you-create-a/) [Deborah Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-kenny/) > [Successful organizations have one common central focus: Customers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/successful-organizations-have-one-common-central-focus-customers/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) > [In most vital organizations, there is a common bond of interdependence, mutual interest, interlocking contributions, and simple joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/in-most-vital-organizations-there-is-a-common-bond-of-interdependence/) [Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/) > [Like many older D.C. organizations, Common Cause has had to come a long way both in its use of the Internet and its understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/like-many-older-d-c-organizations-common-cause-has-had-to-come-a-long/) [Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) > [I've always been very aware of balance and, even before I had a child, my life always takes priority to my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-ve-always-been-very-aware-of-balance-and-even-before-i-had-a-child/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [Earlier, my priority was only work. I worked like a dog before I got married. After marriage, once you have a baby, time management…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kajol/earlier-my-priority-was-only-work-i-worked-like-a-dog-before-i-got/) [Kajol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kajol/) > [Never forget, your family should always have priority over your work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/never-forget-your-family-should-always-have-priority-over-your-work/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [My priority is my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ankit-tiwari/my-priority-is-my-work/) [Ankit Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ankit-tiwari/) > [Throughout my time in Congress, I've made it my priority to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, to look past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacky-rosen/throughout-my-time-in-congress-i-ve-made-it-my-priority-to-work-with/) [Jacky Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacky-rosen/) > [“Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist at the NYU Stern School of Business, made the case for why in an essay in The American Interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-l-friedman/jonathan-haidt-a-social-psychologist-at-the-nyu-stern-school-of/) [Thomas L. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-l-friedman/) > [“Above all, success in business requires two things: a winning competitive strategy, and superb organizational execution. Distrust is the enemy of both. I submit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-r-covey/above-all-success-in-business-requires-two-things-a-winning/) [Stephen M.R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-r-covey/) > [With high trust, success comes faster, better, and at lower cost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-neeleman/with-high-trust-success-comes-faster-better-and-at-lower-cost/) [David Neeleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-neeleman/) > [The first job of a leader-at work or at home-is to inspire trust. It's to bring out the best in people by entrusting them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-first-job-of-a-leader-at-work-or-at-home-is-to-inspire-trust-it-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Gene Kim > [“for those organizations that provided a stock ticker symbol, we found that high performers had 50% higher market capitalization growth over three years. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kim/for-those-organizations-that-provided-a-stock-ticker-symbol-we-found/) [Gene Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kim/) > [“A critical part of the Second Way is making wait times visible, so you know when your work spends days sitting in someone’s queue—or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kim/a-critical-part-of-the-second-way-is-making-wait-times-visible-so-you/) [Gene Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kim/) > [“when something does go wrong, we conduct blameless post-mortems, not to punish anyone, but to better understand what caused the accident and how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kim/when-something-does-go-wrong-we-conduct-blameless-post-mortems-not-to/) [Gene Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kim/) > [“Bill Baker, a distinguished engineer at Microsoft, quipped that we used to treat servers like pets: “You name them and when they get sick,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kim/bill-baker-a-distinguished-engineer-at-microsoft-quipped-that-we-used/) [Gene Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kim/) > [“To even get feedback from our integration process would require twenty-four to thirty-six hours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kim/to-even-get-feedback-from-our-integration-process-would-require/) [Gene Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kim/) > [“work can bounce between teams endlessly due to incomplete information, or work can be passed onto downstream work centers with problems that remain completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kim/work-can-bounce-between-teams-endlessly-due-to-incomplete-information/) [Gene Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kim/) > [“practicing five minutes daily is better than practicing once a week for three hours. And if you want to create a genuine culture of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kim/practicing-five-minutes-daily-is-better-than-practicing-once-a-week/) [Gene Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kim/) > [“habits are what enable mastery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kim/habits-are-what-enable-mastery/) [Gene Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kim/) > [“20% on detailed planning (Their poor throughput and high lead times were misattributed to faulty estimation, and so, hoping to get a better answer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kim/20-on-detailed-planning-their-poor-throughput-and-high-lead-times/) [Gene Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kim/) > [“Features are always a gamble. If you’re lucky, ten percent will get the desired benefits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kim/features-are-always-a-gamble-if-you-re-lucky-ten-percent-will-get-the/) [Gene Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kim/) > [“I listen to Wes and Patty brainstorm ideas to reduce yet another dependency on Brent when something starts to bother me. Erik called WIP,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kim/i-listen-to-wes-and-patty-brainstorm-ideas-to-reduce-yet-another/) [Gene Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kim/) > [The status quo (of development) pre-ordains failure from the very beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kim/the-status-quo-of-development-pre-ordains-failure-from-the-very/) [Gene Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kim/) > [“high performers were twice as likely to exceed profitability, market share, and productivity goals. And,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kim/high-performers-were-twice-as-likely-to-exceed-profitability-market/) [Gene Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kim/) > [“we value improvement of our daily work more than daily work itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kim/we-value-improvement-of-our-daily-work-more-than-daily-work-itself/) [Gene Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kim/) > [“Alert fatigue is the single biggest problem we have right now…We need to be more intelligent about our alerts or we’ll all go insane.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kim/alert-fatigue-is-the-single-biggest-problem-we-have-right-now-we-need/) [Gene Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kim/) [Explore all 175 Gene Kim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kim/) ## More Excellence quotes > [Imperfections are what make you perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-tell/imperfections-are-what-make-you-perfect/) [Nia Tellé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-tell/) > [The pursuit of perfection is frustrating and a waste of time, because nothing is ever perfect. The pursuit of excellence is commendable and worthwhile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kulwicki/the-pursuit-of-perfection-is-frustrating-and-a-waste-of-time-because/) [Alan Kulwicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kulwicki/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [You learn a lot from quality players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marouane-fellaini/you-learn-a-lot-from-quality-players/) [Marouane Fellaini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marouane-fellaini/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [We want to promote the great quality of athletics - and maintain it's integrity - all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-juantorena/we-want-to-promote-the-great-quality-of-athletics-and-maintain-it-s/) [Alberto Juantorena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-juantorena/) > [“Anytime I see a rainbow, what comes into my mind is how skillful and talented someone was to create an ark that didn't leak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/anytime-i-see-a-rainbow-what-comes-into-my-mind-is-how-skillful-and/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [If you are the master be sometimes blind, if you are the servant be sometimes deaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/if-you-are-the-master-be-sometimes-blind-if-you-are-the-servant-be/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [We may be masters of our every lot By bearing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/we-may-be-masters-of-our-every-lot-by-bearing-it/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/quality-means-doing-it-right-when-no-one-is-looking/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [We cannot all be masters, nor all masters Cannot be truly followed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/we-cannot-all-be-masters-nor-all-masters-cannot-be-truly-followed/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Leadership, pure and simple, is the assumption of responsibility for the pursuit of excellence in group life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-selznick/leadership-pure-and-simple-is-the-assumption-of-responsibility-for/) Philip Selznick > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Browse all 4,187 Excellence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What these organizations have in common is a high-trust culture that enables all departments to work together effectively, where all work is transparently prioritized and there is sufficient slack in the system to allow high-priority work to be completed quickly. 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