Mess Quote by Michael Martin Hammer
“Automating a mess yields an automated mess.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Reengineering the Corporation, Michael Hammer, 1990
Attempting to automate a disorganized process results in a similarly chaotic automated system.
In simple terms: Automating chaos creates automated chaos.
Key Takeaway
Fix the process before automating.
Themes
process improvement
automation
systems thinking
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
advisory
warning
When to use this quote
- software development
- manufacturing
- customer service
- IT operations
Key Concepts
lean
reengineering
workflow optimization
Questions to Reflect On
- Is the process well‑designed before you automate?
- What hidden flaws might automation reveal?
A Different Perspective
Automation cannot fix underlying inefficiencies.
![“Well the first time I performed, my mom was like how she is now when sees me on stage – all red, smiling from ear to ear. So I don’t want to mess up, [be]cause she’s smiling. Seeing my mom happy is kind of like an overwhelming feeling.” quote by Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/477/chris-brown-1887_causes_well-the-first-time-i-performed-my-mom-w_4699.jpg)
