Book Quote by John Welch
“Our planning system was dynamite when we first put it in. The thinking was fresh; the form mattered little. It was idea oriented. We then hired a head of planning, and he hired two vice presidents, and then he hired a planner; and the books got thicker, and the printing more sophisticated, and the covers got harder, and the drawings got better.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Winning, 2005
Initial planning was innovative and flexible, but later bureaucracy made it rigid and overcomplicated.
In simple terms: Early ideas were fresh, later became bloated.
Key Takeaway
Maintain agility and avoid unnecessary layers.
Themes
planning
bureaucracy
innovation
Mood
analytical
cautious
Type
business
leadership
When to use this quote
- corporate strategy
- project management
- startup scaling
Key Concepts
organizational design
process optimization
change management
Questions to Reflect On
- How can organizations stay lean?
- What processes add real value?
A Different Perspective
Complex structures can stifle creativity.
