--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you can't describe what you are doing…" description: "\"If you can't describe what you are doing as a process, you don't know what you're doing.\" — W. Edwards Deming" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/w-edwards-deming-1337_doing_if-you-can-t-describe-what-you-are-doing_2842397.jpg" --- # If you can't describe what you are doing as a process, you… ![“If you can't describe what you are doing as a process, you don't know what you're doing.” quote by W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/w-edwards-deming-1337_doing_if-you-can-t-describe-what-you-are-doing_2842397.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/w-edwards-deming-1337_doing_if-you-can-t-describe-what-you-are-doing_2842397.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/w-edwards-deming-1337_doing_if-you-can-t-describe-what-you-are-doing_2842397.jpg) > “If you can't describe what you are doing as a process, you don't know what you're doing.” [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If you cannot articulate your work as a process, you lack true understanding of it. **In simple terms:** Understanding requires clear process description. Key Takeaway Define and document your processes. Themes process improvement knowledge management continuous improvement systems thinking leadership Mood practical reflective inspirational Type business educational When to use this quote - project planning - software development - manufacturing - educational curriculum design Key Concepts process mapping organizational learning quality management Questions to Reflect On - How can you make tacit knowledge explicit? - What tools help visualize complex processes? A Different Perspective Processes can be fluid and hard to capture. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Doing Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-process-2101700/) [Know Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-doing/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Process Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process-don-3733328/) ## Related quotes > [“As Deming is commonly reported to have said, “If you can’t describe what you are doing as a process, you don’t know what you’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-martin/as-deming-is-commonly-reported-to-have-said-if-you-can-t-describe/) [Karen Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-martin/) > [Success is not a doing process, it is a becoming process. What you do, what you pursue, will elude youit can be like chasing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/success-is-not-a-doing-process-it-is-a-becoming-process-what-you-do/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [“Good process serves you so you can serve customers. But if you’re not watchful, the process can become the thing. This can easily happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna-reddy/good-process-serves-you-so-you-can-serve-customers-but-if-you-re-not/) [Ramakrishna Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna-reddy/) > [“Systemization If you can’t describe what you are doing as a process, you don’t know what you’re doing. —W. EDWARDS DEMING, PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT EXPERT…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-kaufman/systemization-if-you-can-t-describe-what-you-are-doing-as-a-process/) [Josh Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-kaufman/) > [Art resides in the quality of doing, process is not magic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eames/art-resides-in-the-quality-of-doing-process-is-not-magic/) [Charles Eames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eames/) > [I know what I’m doing. I know I’m shocking you,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/i-know-what-i-m-doing-i-know-i-m-shocking-you/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [At one point, people are going to have to realize that maybe I know what I'm doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-trudeau/at-one-point-people-are-going-to-have-to-realize-that-maybe-i-know/) [Justin Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-trudeau/) > [When I'm writing, I know I'm doing the thing I was born to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/when-i-m-writing-i-know-i-m-doing-the-thing-i-was-born-to-do/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [I don't think you ever really know what all you're doing, so you have to act on faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-don-t-think-you-ever-really-know-what-all-you-re-doing-so-you-have/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [Do yoga in order to know what to do when you're not doing yoga.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stryker/do-yoga-in-order-to-know-what-to-do-when-you-re-not-doing-yoga/) [Rod Stryker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stryker/) > [I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm damn well gonna do it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geri-halliwell/i-don-t-know-what-i-m-doing-but-i-m-damn-well-gonna-do-it/) [Geri Halliwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geri-halliwell/) > [I know a lot of people who are very good at their craft who have learned - people behind the camera - who really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-jones/i-know-a-lot-of-people-who-are-very-good-at-their-craft-who-have/) [Jeffrey Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-jones/) > [When you get ready to vote, make sure you know what you are doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/when-you-get-ready-to-vote-make-sure-you-know-what-you-are-doing/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [Know what you're doing, love what you're doing, and believe in what you're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/know-what-you-re-doing-love-what-you-re-doing-and-believe-in-what-you/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [I always find that the best collaborations are when you work with people that know what they're doing, and you leave them alone to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-always-find-that-the-best-collaborations-are-when-you-work-with/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) ## More by W. Edwards Deming > [Absence of defects does not necessarily build business... Something more is required.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/absence-of-defects-does-not-necessarily-build-business-something-more/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [In Japan, a company worker's position is secure. He is retrained for another job if his present job is eliminated by productivity improvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/in-japan-a-company-worker-s-position-is-secure-he-is-retrained-for/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [We are here to make another world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/we-are-here-to-make-another-world/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [It is a mistake to assume that if everybody does his job, it will be all right. The whole system may be in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/it-is-a-mistake-to-assume-that-if-everybody-does-his-job-it-will-be/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [Innovation comes from the producer - not from the customer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/innovation-comes-from-the-producer-not-from-the-customer/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [The only useful function of a statistician is to make predictions, and thus to provide a basis for action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/the-only-useful-function-of-a-statistician-is-to-make-predictions-and/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [A leader is a coach, not a judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/a-leader-is-a-coach-not-a-judge/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [It does not happen all at once. There is no instant pudding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/it-does-not-happen-all-at-once-there-is-no-instant-pudding/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [Sub-optimization is when everyone is for himself. Optimization is when everyone is working to help the company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/sub-optimization-is-when-everyone-is-for-himself-optimization-is-when/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [We know what we told him, but we don't know what he heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/we-know-what-we-told-him-but-we-don-t-know-what-he-heard/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [Rational behavior requires theory. Reactive behavior requires only reflex action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/rational-behavior-requires-theory-reactive-behavior-requires-only/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [A manager of people needs to understand that all people are different. This is not ranking people. He needs to understand that the performance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/a-manager-of-people-needs-to-understand-that-all-people-are-different/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [“It is not enough to just do your best or work hard; You must know what to work on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/it-is-not-enough-to-just-do-your-best-or-work-hard-you-must-know-what/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [You have to manage a system. The system doesn't manage itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/you-have-to-manage-a-system-the-system-doesn-t-manage-itself/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [Two basic rules of life are: 1) Change is inevitable. 2) Everybody resists change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/two-basic-rules-of-life-are-1-change-is-inevitable-2-everybody/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) [Explore all 255 W. Edwards Deming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) ## More Doing quotes > [I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm damn well gonna do it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geri-halliwell/i-don-t-know-what-i-m-doing-but-i-m-damn-well-gonna-do-it/) [Geri Halliwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geri-halliwell/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [If you think you're doing everything right, then you have a tendency to stand pat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stockton/if-you-think-you-re-doing-everything-right-then-you-have-a-tendency/) [John Stockton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stockton/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [Doing the right things is more important than doing things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ko-wen-je/doing-the-right-things-is-more-important-than-doing-things-right/) [Ko Wen-je](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ko-wen-je/) > [I was in high school and I had an independent album out, and we kept sending that out, and I was doing shows. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-hilton/i-was-in-high-school-and-i-had-an-independent-album-out-and-we-kept/) [Tyler Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-hilton/) > [If I'm not thinking about you then I am texting you , if I am not texting you then I am on the phone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-m-not-thinking-about-you-then-i-am-texting-you-if-i-am-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [.\*. why u hate me..Bitches be doing the most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty/why-u-hate-me-bitches-be-doing-the-most/) [Kitty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty/) > [“dances with mine as if we’ve been doing this our whole”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-michaels/dances-with-mine-as-if-we-ve-been-doing-this-our-whole/) [Corinne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-michaels/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the dollar collapses, it's not doing it in a vacuum. If the dollar loses value, it's doing so relative to some other currency.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/when-the-dollar-collapses-it-s-not-doing-it-in-a-vacuum-if-the-dollar/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [When I made it, I still didn't wave the flag and say, Yeah go Asian people. I do want people to know that about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hugo/when-i-made-it-i-still-didn-t-wave-the-flag-and-say-yeah-go-asian/) [Chad Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hugo/) > [I really can't live without my In-N-Out burgers. Honestly, I can't. Even when I'm doing the whole no-carb thing occasionally, I make an exception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-really-can-t-live-without-my-in-n-out-burgers-honestly-i-can-t-even/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [You can't drain the swamp, as President Trump has touted doing, without getting rid of Mitch McConnell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/you-can-t-drain-the-swamp-as-president-trump-has-touted-doing-without/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) [Browse all 10,133 Doing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you can't describe what you are doing as a process, you don't know what you're doing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "W. 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