--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Corporations, in the name of efficiency…" description: "\"Corporations, in the name of efficiency, suppress variation by \"getting all the ducks in line.\"To optimize productivity, they evolve highly refined and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/richard-pascale-34660_bottom_corporations-in-the-name-of-efficiency-s_1667763.jpg" --- # Corporations, in the name of efficiency, suppress… ![“Corporations, in the name of efficiency, suppress variation by "getting all the ducks in line."To optimize productivity, they evolve highly refined and internally consistent operating systems. Payoff - results - as long as the music lasts. But ... all that streamlining and re-engineering limits…” quote by Richard Pascale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/richard-pascale-34660_bottom_corporations-in-the-name-of-efficiency-s_1667763.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/richard-pascale-34660_bottom_corporations-in-the-name-of-efficiency-s_1667763.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/richard-pascale-34660_bottom_corporations-in-the-name-of-efficiency-s_1667763.jpg) > “Corporations, in the name of efficiency, suppress variation by "getting all the ducks in line."To optimize productivity, they evolve highly refined and internally consistent operating systems. Payoff - results - as long as the music lasts. But ... all that streamlining and re-engineering limits diversity, suppresses self-organization ... and curtails a bottom up emergent response to disruptive change.” [Richard Pascale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pascale/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Corporations streamline processes for efficiency, but excessive uniformity stifles diversity and adaptive innovation. **In simple terms:** Too much efficiency kills creativity and flexibility. Key Takeaway Balance efficiency with space for variation. Themes efficiency diversity innovation organization adaptability Mood analytical critical Type observation analysis When to use this quote - business strategy - process design - change management Key Concepts systems thinking emergent behavior organizational culture Questions to Reflect On - How can firms maintain efficiency while encouraging creative disruption? - What mechanisms foster bottom‑up innovation? A Different Perspective Rigid systems may resist necessary change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bottom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Consistent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistent/) [Corporations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations/) [Corporations Efficiency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations-efficiency-827170/) [Disruptive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disruptive/) [Diversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diversity/) [Diversity Suppresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diversity-suppresses-827169/) [Ducks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ducks/) [Efficiency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/efficiency/) [Efficiency Suppress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/efficiency-suppress-827171/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [Evolve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolve/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Operating system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/operating-system/) [Operating systems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/operating-systems/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [Payoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/payoff/) [Productivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productivity/) [Productivity Evolve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productivity-evolve-827168/) [Refined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refined/) [Response](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/response/) [Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-organization-438344/) [Streamlining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streamlining/) [Variation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/variation/) ## Related quotes > [Education is a work of self-organization by which man adapts himself to the conditions of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/education-is-a-work-of-self-organization-by-which-man-adapts-himself/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [A goal of education is. to assist growth toward greater complexity and integration and to assist in the process of self-organization - to modify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reuven-feuerstein/a-goal-of-education-is-to-assist-growth-toward-greater-complexity-and/) [Reuven Feuerstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reuven-feuerstein/) > [“Spontaneous self-organization is not restricted to living systems;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sacks/spontaneous-self-organization-is-not-restricted-to-living-systems/) [Oliver Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sacks/) > [The self-organizing and self-correcting imprint is on all aspects of reality. 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Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [For all we know, we are the only shot the universe has at intelligent self-organization. Therefore, we need to take it seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/for-all-we-know-we-are-the-only-shot-the-universe-has-at-intelligent/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [Basins of attraction, of self organization, show up as well in our complex social environment, in human organizations. Here again, while we cannot predict…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/basins-of-attraction-of-self-organization-show-up-as-well-in-our/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [Not one example of significant self-generation or self-organization can be found in the entire realm of nature… Without causation, nothing happens and without organization…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-ross/not-one-example-of-significant-self-generation-or-self-organization/) [Hugh Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-ross/) > [We need to look at learning as the product of educational self-organization. It’s not about making learning happen; it’s about letting it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugata-mitra/we-need-to-look-at-learning-as-the-product-of-educational-self/) [Sugata Mitra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugata-mitra/) > [Peering succeeds because it leverages self-organization—a style of production that works more effectively than hierarchical management for certain tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-tapscott/peering-succeeds-because-it-leverages-self-organization-a-style-of/) [Don Tapscott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-tapscott/) > [“If biologists have ignored self-organization, it is not because self-ordering is not pervasive and profound. It is because we biologists have yet to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-kauffman/if-biologists-have-ignored-self-organization-it-is-not-because-self/) [Stuart Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-kauffman/) > [Streamlining New Hampshire's regulatory framework is a key priority of my administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sununu/streamlining-new-hampshire-s-regulatory-framework-is-a-key-priority/) [Chris Sununu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sununu/) > [Truly world-class firms are always examining their business processes and continuously seeking solutions to improve in key areas, such as lead time reduction, cost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-baldwin/truly-world-class-firms-are-always-examining-their-business-processes/) [Daniel Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-baldwin/) > [By simplifying and streamlining the tax filing process it lifts a huge burden off of the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-justice/by-simplifying-and-streamlining-the-tax-filing-process-it-lifts-a/) [Jim Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-justice/) ## More by Richard Pascale > [Discoveries from one community cannot be repackaged and provided to another as a silver bullet, That's a "best practice" rollout and it invariably evokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pascale/discoveries-from-one-community-cannot-be-repackaged-and-provided-to/) [Richard Pascale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pascale/) > [Organizations are, in the last analysis, interactions among people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pascale/organizations-are-in-the-last-analysis-interactions-among-people/) [Richard Pascale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pascale/) > [Harnessing adversity is a discipline tailored to a world of unpredictable outcomes--a world where one can disturb, but not wholly direct, a living system.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pascale/harnessing-adversity-is-a-discipline-tailored-to-a-world-of/) [Richard Pascale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pascale/) > [Knowledge does not advance practice. Rather practice advances knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pascale/knowledge-does-not-advance-practice-rather-practice-advances-knowledge/) [Richard Pascale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pascale/) > [Leadership is making happen what wouldn't happen anyway and this always entails working at the edge of what is acceptable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pascale/leadership-is-making-happen-what-wouldn-t-happen-anyway-and-this/) [Richard Pascale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pascale/) > [Contrary to widespread faith in "communication" and "knowledge transfer," information has a social life, and unless new insights are embedded in the social system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pascale/contrary-to-widespread-faith-in-communication-and-knowledge-transfer/) [Richard Pascale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pascale/) > [Great companies make meaning. A company has a name, but its people give it meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pascale/great-companies-make-meaning-a-company-has-a-name-but-its-people-give/) [Richard Pascale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pascale/) > [Unintended consequences get to the heart of why you never really understand an adaptive problem until you have solved it. Problems morph and "solutions"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pascale/unintended-consequences-get-to-the-heart-of-why-you-never-really/) [Richard Pascale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pascale/) > [Explicit knowledge, conventionally delivered like pizza (neat boxes with toppings of concepts, theories, best practices and war stories), is consumed by the brain but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pascale/explicit-knowledge-conventionally-delivered-like-pizza-neat-boxes/) [Richard Pascale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pascale/) > [People are much more likely to act their way into a new way of thinking, than think their way into a new way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pascale/people-are-much-more-likely-to-act-their-way-into-a-new-way-of/) [Richard Pascale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pascale/) > [The inherent preferences of organizations are clarity, certainty and perfection. The inherent nature of human relationships involves ambiguity, uncertainty, and imperfection. How one honors,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pascale/the-inherent-preferences-of-organizations-are-clarity-certainty-and/) [Richard Pascale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pascale/) > [The incremental approach to change is effective when what you want is more of what you've already got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pascale/the-incremental-approach-to-change-is-effective-when-what-you-want-is/) [Richard Pascale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pascale/) > [The real objective isn't just "knowledge" or getting an 80-20 understanding of the situation. The overriding objective is engagement, creating a buzz, mobilizing people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pascale/the-real-objective-isn-t-just-knowledge-or-getting-an-80-20/) [Richard Pascale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pascale/) [Explore all 14 Richard Pascale quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pascale/) ## More Bottom quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Filmmaking, like sex, isn't a polite enterprise. It involves a lot of mess and the bottom line is, if somebody ain't screaming, you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-woods/filmmaking-like-sex-isn-t-a-polite-enterprise-it-involves-a-lot-of/) [James Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-woods/) > [I was terrible student. I was capable, but I never like being told what to do, so I was always in the bottom class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-was-terrible-student-i-was-capable-but-i-never-like-being-told-what/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [The contempt for law and the contempt for the human consequences of lawbreaking go from the bottom to the top of American society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-contempt-for-law-and-the-contempt-for-the-human-consequences-of/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [I plead with my Moonlight fans to give this show a chance if they let me give it a chance. I can’t do Moonlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-o-loughlin/i-plead-with-my-moonlight-fans-to-give-this-show-a-chance-if-they-let/) [Alex O'Loughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-o-loughlin/) > [Well, the bottom line is that I'm extremely pleased with 'The Stupids.' I'm pleased that it's coming out, and it should look good. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/well-the-bottom-line-is-that-i-m-extremely-pleased-with-the-stupids-i/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [Search for the seed of good in every adversity. 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At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [When I hit bottom, I can attack the problem and get to where I want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/when-i-hit-bottom-i-can-attack-the-problem-and-get-to-where-i-want-to/) [Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/) > [If I had lost the popular vote but won the electoral college and in my first day as president the intelligence community came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-i-had-lost-the-popular-vote-but-won-the-electoral-college-and-in/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The bottom line, in the professional level, no matter where you go, there's going to be competition. That's what it is. At the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/the-bottom-line-in-the-professional-level-no-matter-where-you-go/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [Life is a climb and it's a struggle getting to the top but the drop to the bottom can be quick and so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/life-is-a-climb-and-it-s-a-struggle-getting-to-the-top-but-the-drop/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [One thing you learned as a Cubs fan: when you bought you ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-garagiola/one-thing-you-learned-as-a-cubs-fan-when-you-bought-you-ticket-you/) [Joe Garagiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-garagiola/) > [The political satirist usually votes against their own interests, but the bottom line is that it doesn't really matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/the-political-satirist-usually-votes-against-their-own-interests-but/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) [Browse all 2,558 Bottom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Corporations, in the name of efficiency, suppress variation by \"getting all the ducks in line.\"To optimize productivity, they evolve highly refined and internally consistent operating systems. 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