Business Quote by Russell L. Ackoff
“Errors of omission, lost opportunities, are generally more critical than errors of commission. Organizations fail or decline more frequently because of what they did not do than because of what they did.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Recreating the Corporation, 1990
Neglecting to act often causes greater damage than taking wrong actions, leading organizations to falter due to inaction.
In simple terms: Missing actions hurt more than wrong ones.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize proactive decisions.
Themes
strategy
decisionmaking
risk
organisational behavior
Mood
concerned
urgent
Type
advisory
analytical
When to use this quote
- product development
- market entry
- policy planning
- change management
Key Concepts
systems thinking
learning organization
Questions to Reflect On
- What actions are you avoiding?
- How can you balance caution with initiative?
A Different Perspective
Proactive steps can still fail if poorly executed.
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