--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You must figure out how to control the…" description: "\"“You must figure out how to control the release of work into IT Operations and, more importantly, ensure that your most constrained resources are doing..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3a/gene-kim-2268_goals_you-must-figure-out-how-to-control-the-r_1929539.jpg" --- # You must figure out how to control the release of work… ![“You must figure out how to control the release of work into IT Operations and, more importantly, ensure that your most constrained resources are doing only the work that serves the goal of the entire system, not just one silo.” quote by Gene Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3a/gene-kim-2268_goals_you-must-figure-out-how-to-control-the-r_1929539.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3a/gene-kim-2268_goals_you-must-figure-out-how-to-control-the-r_1929539.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3a/gene-kim-2268_goals_you-must-figure-out-how-to-control-the-r_1929539.jpg) > ““You must figure out how to control the release of work into IT Operations and, more importantly, ensure that your most constrained resources are doing only the work that serves the goal of the entire system, not just one silo.”” [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. Effective IT operations require aligning limited resources with overall system goals rather than isolated departmental aims. **In simple terms:** Focus resources on system-wide goals. Key Takeaway Prioritize work that serves the whole system. Themes resource management systems thinking collaboration Mood analytical focused strategic Type operational strategic inspirational When to use this quote - project planning - IT service management - cross‑functional teams - capacity planning Key Concepts lean IT constraint theory systems optimization Questions to Reflect On - How can you identify the most constrained resource? - What metrics reveal work that serves the whole purpose A Different Perspective Balancing competing priorities can be difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) ## Related quotes > [I do a project and then I forget about it because the release of whatever work you have done is not in your hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-kapur/i-do-a-project-and-then-i-forget-about-it-because-the-release-of/) [Pankaj Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-kapur/) > [In a time of constrained resources we will have to shift emphasis. but not necessarily from the traditional Political Officer to the traditional Economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-eagleburger/in-a-time-of-constrained-resources-we-will-have-to-shift-emphasis-but/) [Lawrence Eagleburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-eagleburger/) > [Executives are constrained not by resources, but by their imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-k-prahalad/executives-are-constrained-not-by-resources-but-by-their-imagination/) [C. K. Prahalad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-k-prahalad/) > [Even if you have constrained resources, don't cut corners. People will feel it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-fadell/even-if-you-have-constrained-resources-don-t-cut-corners-people-will/) [Tony Fadell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-fadell/) > [“The food in Silo One came from cans. Their bodies returned to the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/the-food-in-silo-one-came-from-cans-their-bodies-returned-to-the-same/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [“The point of the silo was for the people to keep the machines running, when Jahns had always, her entire long life, seen it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/the-point-of-the-silo-was-for-the-people-to-keep-the-machines-running/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [“Silo 18 The Year of the Great Uprising”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/silo-18-the-year-of-the-great-uprising/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [“She was amazed, once again, at how much of the silo was alien to even her”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/she-was-amazed-once-again-at-how-much-of-the-silo-was-alien-to-even/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [“And now you see why some facts, some pieces of knowledge, have to be snuffed out as soon as they form. Curiosity would blow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/and-now-you-see-why-some-facts-some-pieces-of-knowledge-have-to-be/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [“Silo one? This is silo eighteen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/silo-one-this-is-silo-eighteen/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [“He reached his hands toward the door and I figured what the hell. I’d never been in a silo before, and while that’s not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-starmer/he-reached-his-hands-toward-the-door-and-i-figured-what-the-hell-i-d/) [Aaron Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-starmer/) > [“Ideas cannot be limited to the confines of a silo. They need space to run around and occasionally bump into strangers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hardy/ideas-cannot-be-limited-to-the-confines-of-a-silo-they-need-space-to/) Steve Hardy > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) ## 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 Goals quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Every drop of rain hits its appointed target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/every-drop-of-rain-hits-its-appointed-target/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/) [Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“What shapes us is not always our achievements but our omissions. Not lies; simply the truths we don’t tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-tudor/what-shapes-us-is-not-always-our-achievements-but-our-omissions-not/) [C.J. Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-tudor/) [Browse all 21,276 Goals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You must figure out how to control the release of work into IT Operations and, more importantly, ensure that your most constrained resources are doing only the work that serves the goal of the entire system, not just one silo.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gene Kim" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kim/you-must-figure-out-how-to-control-the-release-of-work-into-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Goals" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kim/you-must-figure-out-how-to-control-the-release-of-work-into-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3a/gene-kim-2268_goals_you-must-figure-out-how-to-control-the-r_1929539.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3a/gene-kim-2268_goals_you-must-figure-out-how-to-control-the-r_1929539.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3a/gene-kim-2268_goals_you-must-figure-out-how-to-control-the-r_1929539.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You must figure out how to control the release of work into IT Operations and, more importantly, ensure that…” — Gene Kim", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gene Kim", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kim/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“You must figure out how to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kim/you-must-figure-out-how-to-control-the-release-of-work-into-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kim/you-must-figure-out-how-to-control-the-release-of-work-into-it/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```