--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: W. Edwards Deming—that arguably, over 90…" description: "\"“W. Edwards Deming—that arguably, over 90 percent of problems are due to bad systems, not bad people. However, Greenleaf correctly points out that peop..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/robert-k-greenleaf-19333_bad-people_w-edwards-deming-that-arguably-over-90-p_1706746.png" --- # W. Edwards Deming—that arguably, over 90 percent of… ![“W. Edwards Deming—that arguably, over 90 percent of problems are due to bad systems, not bad people. However, Greenleaf correctly points out that people are the programmers.” quote by Robert K. Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/robert-k-greenleaf-19333_bad-people_w-edwards-deming-that-arguably-over-90-p_1706746.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/robert-k-greenleaf-19333_bad-people_w-edwards-deming-that-arguably-over-90-p_1706746.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/robert-k-greenleaf-19333_bad-people_w-edwards-deming-that-arguably-over-90-p_1706746.png) > ““W. Edwards Deming—that arguably, over 90 percent of problems are due to bad systems, not bad people. However, Greenleaf correctly points out that people are the programmers.”” [Robert K. Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-greenleaf/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Most problems stem from flawed systems, not individuals; people are the programmers of those systems. **In simple terms:** Bad systems cause issues, people design them. Key Takeaway Improve systems, not blame people. Themes systems responsibility leadership Mood analytical proactive Type strategic inspirational When to use this quote - organizational change - process improvement Key Concepts systemic thinking design accountability Questions to Reflect On - What system flaws can you identify? - How can you influence system design? A Different Perspective Systems can be complex and resistant to change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-people/) [Bad Systems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-systems-1204898/) [Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/edwards-deming/) [Greenleaf Correctly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greenleaf-correctly-1204900/) [People Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-greenleaf-1204901/) [People Programmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-programmers-1204899/) [Problem solving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-solving/) [Programmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programmers/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) ## Related quotes > [When designers replaced the command line interface with the graphical user interface, billions of people who are not programmers could make use of computer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/when-designers-replaced-the-command-line-interface-with-the-graphical/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [“So often the problem is in the system, not in the people. If you put good people in bad systems, you get bad results.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/so-often-the-problem-is-in-the-system-not-in-the-people-if-you-put/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [If you put good people in bad systems you get bad results. You have to water the flowers you want to grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-you-put-good-people-in-bad-systems-you-get-bad-results-you-have-to/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [“It is not enough to do your best; you must know what to do, and THEN do your best. —W. Edwards Deming”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-grenny/it-is-not-enough-to-do-your-best-you-must-know-what-to-do-and-then-do-2/) [Joseph Grenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-grenny/) > [The legendary statistical consultant W. 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Edwards Deming, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/possibly-the-biggest-issue-however-is-that-performance-appraisals/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [I think once the artistic world of the type designer merged with the scientific world of the computer programmer, you began to see this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bierut/i-think-once-the-artistic-world-of-the-type-designer-merged-with-the/) [Michael Bierut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bierut/) > [Programmers are always surrounded by complexity; we cannot avoid it… If our basic tool, the language in which we design and code our programs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hoare/programmers-are-always-surrounded-by-complexity-we-cannot-avoid-it-if/) [Tony Hoare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hoare/) ## More by Robert K. 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