--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is the manager's job? It is to…" description: "\"What is the manager's job? It is to direct the resources and the efforts of the business toward opportunities for economically significant results. Thi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/peter-drucker-393_allocation_what-is-the-manager-s-job-it-is-to-direc_535749.jpg" --- # What is the manager's job? It is to direct the resources… ![“What is the manager's job? It is to direct the resources and the efforts of the business toward opportunities for economically significant results. This sounds trite - and it is. But every analysis of actual allocation of resources and efforts in business that I have ever seen or made showed…” quote by Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/peter-drucker-393_allocation_what-is-the-manager-s-job-it-is-to-direc_535749.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/peter-drucker-393_allocation_what-is-the-manager-s-job-it-is-to-direc_535749.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/peter-drucker-393_allocation_what-is-the-manager-s-job-it-is-to-direc_535749.jpg) > “What is the manager's job? It is to direct the resources and the efforts of the business toward opportunities for economically significant results. This sounds trite - and it is. But every analysis of actual allocation of resources and efforts in business that I have ever seen or made showed clearly that the bulk of time, work, attention, and money first goes to problems rather than to opportunities, and, secondly, to areas where even extraordinarily successful performance will have minimal impact on results.” [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Managers should allocate resources toward opportunities, but they often focus on problems and low‑impact tasks. **In simple terms:** Managers tend to fix problems instead of seizing opportunities. Key Takeaway Prioritize high‑impact opportunities. Themes management strategy resource allocation Mood analytical pragmatic Type business strategic When to use this quote - business planning - budget reviews - project prioritization Key Concepts opportunity cost decision making efficiency Questions to Reflect On - How can you shift focus from problems to opportunities? - What metrics reveal true impact? A Different Perspective Opportunity focus can be hindered by urgent crises. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Analysis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/analysis/) [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Impact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impact/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) ## Related quotes > [All companies have many opportunities. Strategy is about allocation of resources and priorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-silverstein/all-companies-have-many-opportunities-strategy-is-about-allocation-of/) [Michael J. Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-silverstein/) > [The tyranny of distance is such an important element of policy and the allocation of resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brandis/the-tyranny-of-distance-is-such-an-important-element-of-policy-and/) [George Brandis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brandis/) > [Thanks to all of these efforts, our business is doing really well, and we're on track to create a nice self-sustaining business, and because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/thanks-to-all-of-these-efforts-our-business-is-doing-really-well-and/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [We must give young people and others who cannot find a job a direct and clear incentive to create one for themselves by starting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-leadsom/we-must-give-young-people-and-others-who-cannot-find-a-job-a-direct/) [Andrea Leadsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-leadsom/) > [The England manager job is not for me - I'm very happy wih what I'm doing in French football for now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-houllier/the-england-manager-job-is-not-for-me-i-m-very-happy-wih-what-i-m/) [Gerard Houllier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-houllier/) > [A manager's job is simple. For one hundred sixty-two games you try not to screw up all that smart stuff your organization did last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-weaver/a-manager-s-job-is-simple-for-one-hundred-sixty-two-games-you-try-not/) [Earl Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-weaver/) > [Your job as a baseball player is to come to the park ready to play every day, and the manager, it's his job to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/your-job-as-a-baseball-player-is-to-come-to-the-park-ready-to-play/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [One thing I learned in the NBA is that the No. 1 job of a general manager is to keep his job. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/one-thing-i-learned-in-the-nba-is-that-the-no-1-job-of-a-general/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [You don't get a manager's job at a big club unless it is in a mess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-souness/you-don-t-get-a-manager-s-job-at-a-big-club-unless-it-is-in-a-mess/) [Graeme Souness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-souness/) > [A manager's job is really tough - you have so little time, but so much to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hye-ri/a-manager-s-job-is-really-tough-you-have-so-little-time-but-so-much/) [Lee Hye-ri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hye-ri/) > [Being a manager is more than a job. It's my passion. From the moment I wake up in the morning it's my passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-silva/being-a-manager-is-more-than-a-job-it-s-my-passion-from-the-moment-i/) [Marco Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-silva/) > [It is not the manager's job to prevent risks. It is the manager's job to make it safe to take them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-not-the-manager-s-job-to-prevent-risks-it-is-the-manager-s-job/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The manager's job - the impresario's job - is to preside over the company's efforts to jam so the business runs really well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/the-manager-s-job-the-impresario-s-job-is-to-preside-over-the-company/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) > [You know when you take a manager's job it could be terminal. I was making sure there was enough in the bank to cover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-clarke/you-know-when-you-take-a-manager-s-job-it-could-be-terminal-i-was/) [Steve Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-clarke/) > [“The sales manager's job is to become a sales leader and focus on communicating the culture.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-miller/the-sales-manager-s-job-is-to-become-a-sales-leader-and-focus-on/) [William Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-miller/) ## More by Peter Drucker > [One reason for the tremendous increase in health-care costs in the U.S. is managerial neglect of the "hotel services" by the people who dominate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/one-reason-for-the-tremendous-increase-in-health-care-costs-in-the-u/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [No executive has ever suffered because his subordinates were strong and effective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/no-executive-has-ever-suffered-because-his-subordinates-were-strong/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Results is all that separates one company from another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/results-is-all-that-separates-one-company-from-another/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [“There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all. 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Innovate for the present!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/don-t-try-to-innovate-for-the-future-innovate-for-the-present/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [The critical question is not "How can I achieve?" but "What can I contribute?"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-critical-question-is-not-how-can-i-achieve-but-what-can-i/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [We can say with certainty - or 90% probability - that the new industries that are about to be born will have nothing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/we-can-say-with-certainty-or-90-probability-that-the-new-industries/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [When it rains manna from heaven, some people put up an umbrella. Others reach for a big spoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/when-it-rains-manna-from-heaven-some-people-put-up-an-umbrella-others/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [The enterprise can fulfill its human and social functions only if it prospers as a business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-enterprise-can-fulfill-its-human-and-social-functions-only-if-it/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [The computer actually may have aggravated management's degenerative tendency to focus inward on costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-computer-actually-may-have-aggravated-management-s-degenerative/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Nobody can predict the future; the idea is to have a firm grasp of the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/nobody-can-predict-the-future-the-idea-is-to-have-a-firm-grasp-of-the/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [An executive should be a realist; and no one is less realistic than the cynic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/an-executive-should-be-a-realist-and-no-one-is-less-realistic-than/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) [Explore all 603 Peter Drucker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) ## More Allocation quotes > [I think that the first thing is you should have a strategic asset allocation mix that assumes that you don't know what the future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/i-think-that-the-first-thing-is-you-should-have-a-strategic-asset/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [It is a mark of how far we have gone on the road to serfdom that government allocation and rationing of oil is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/it-is-a-mark-of-how-far-we-have-gone-on-the-road-to-serfdom-that/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Accounting consequences do not influence our operating or capital-allocation decisions. When acquisition costs are similar, we much prefer to purchase $2 of earnings that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/accounting-consequences-do-not-influence-our-operating-or-capital/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Education is the most important thing you can have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-smith/education-is-the-most-important-thing-you-can-have/) [Torrey Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-smith/) > [Let me make it clear: The Disbursement Allocation Program is not pork barrel. Of the DAP releases in 2011 and 2012, only nine percent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benigno-aquino-iii/let-me-make-it-clear-the-disbursement-allocation-program-is-not-pork/) [Benigno Aquino III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benigno-aquino-iii/) > [I assume, gladly, that in the allocation to America of remarkable leaders like Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln, the Lord was just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/i-assume-gladly-that-in-the-allocation-to-america-of-remarkable/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Mere allocation of huge sums of money for quality will not bring quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/mere-allocation-of-huge-sums-of-money-for-quality-will-not-bring/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [If everybody is rewarded just for being alive, you get the same sort of effect as you do when you reward every student just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/if-everybody-is-rewarded-just-for-being-alive-you-get-the-same-sort/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [The goal of socialism is a fairer allocation of economic resources, which its advocates often claim will also be a less wasteful one. Socialism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/the-goal-of-socialism-is-a-fairer-allocation-of-economic-resources/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [We can extrapolate from the study that for the long term individual investor who maintains a consistent asset allocation and leans toward index funds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-g-ibbotson/we-can-extrapolate-from-the-study-that-for-the-long-term-individual/) Roger G. Ibbotson > [The water trading mechanism where there are transparent trades of water allocations is one that is good for us to learn from because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-levine/the-water-trading-mechanism-where-there-are-transparent-trades-of/) Marc Levine > [“Allocate your resources wisely for all men have been endowed with abilities that are more than sufficient to accomplish even the greatest of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-payton/allocate-your-resources-wisely-for-all-men-have-been-endowed-with/) [Stella Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-payton/) > [The necessity for power is obvious, because life cannot be lived without order; but the allocation of power is arbitrary because all men are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-necessity-for-power-is-obvious-because-life-cannot-be-lived/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [There are many challenges in the global education ecosystem: from top-down systemic issues in how educational services are organized and delivered, to bottom-up issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-braun/there-are-many-challenges-in-the-global-education-ecosystem-from-top/) [Adam Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-braun/) > [Handicap: an allocation of strokes on one or more holes that permits two golfers of very different ability to do equally poorly on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-beard/handicap-an-allocation-of-strokes-on-one-or-more-holes-that-permits/) [Henry Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-beard/) Browse all 63 Allocation quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What is the manager's job? 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