--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only people in any enterprise who…" description: "\"“The only people in any enterprise who ever describe anyone except the people who buy the enterprise’s products and services as “customers” are IT pers..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/richard-hunter-87961_business_the-only-people-in-any-enterprise-who-ev_2287806.jpg" --- # The only people in any enterprise who ever describe anyone… ![“The only people in any enterprise who ever describe anyone except the people who buy the enterprise’s products and services as “customers” are IT personnel. The only people in the enterprise who ever talk about “aligning with the business” are IT personnel. (Maybe the head of sales has talked…” quote by Richard Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/richard-hunter-87961_business_the-only-people-in-any-enterprise-who-ev_2287806.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/richard-hunter-87961_business_the-only-people-in-any-enterprise-who-ev_2287806.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/richard-hunter-87961_business_the-only-people-in-any-enterprise-who-ev_2287806.jpg) > ““The only people in any enterprise who ever describe anyone except the people who buy the enterprise’s products and services as “customers” are IT personnel. The only people in the enterprise who ever talk about “aligning with the business” are IT personnel. (Maybe the head of sales has talked about aligning her function with a new strategy or a new value proposition, or the head of manufacturing has talked about aligning with new key performance indicators—but aligning with the business?) That view can’t be good for IT. It is a legacy of the”” [Richard Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hunter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. IT staff often claim ownership of customers and alignment with business, which can create a disconnect from actual market needs. **In simple terms:** IT sometimes sees itself as the customer liaison, which may be misguided. Key Takeaway Encourage cross‑functional dialogue to align IT with real business goals. Themes technology business alignment communication organizational culture customer focus Mood reflective analytical Type organizational strategic When to use this quote - product development - marketing strategy - customer service - IT project planning Key Concepts silo mentality stakeholder engagement value creation Questions to Reflect On - Who should define the customer in a company? - How can IT better integrate with sales and marketing? A Different Perspective Relying solely on IT for alignment can miss broader market perspectives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aligning Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aligning-business-2859084/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Customers Personnel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customers-personnel-5363670/) [Enterprise People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enterprise-people-5295087/) [Enterprise Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enterprise-talk-5363668/) [People Enterprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-enterprise-5363669/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a big believer in free enterprise. 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In this regard, calling the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hunter/language-is-powerful-what-we-say-can-shape-how-we-think-and-it/) [Richard Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hunter/) [Explore all 3 Richard Hunter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hunter/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. 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And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. 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Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/) [Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The only people in any enterprise who ever describe anyone except the people who buy the enterprise’s products and services as “customers” are IT personnel. 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