--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No requirement of industry is so much…" description: "\"No requirement of industry is so much neglected as operational definitions.\" — W. Edwards Deming" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/w-edwards-deming-1337_definitions_no-requirement-of-industry-is-so-much-ne_1547568.jpg" --- # No requirement of industry is so much neglected as… ![“No requirement of industry is so much neglected as operational definitions.” quote by W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/w-edwards-deming-1337_definitions_no-requirement-of-industry-is-so-much-ne_1547568.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/w-edwards-deming-1337_definitions_no-requirement-of-industry-is-so-much-ne_1547568.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/w-edwards-deming-1337_definitions_no-requirement-of-industry-is-so-much-ne_1547568.jpg) > “No requirement of industry is so much neglected as operational definitions.” [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. Operational definitions are often overlooked, yet they are essential for clear communication and effective practice. **In simple terms:** Clear definitions matter in work. Key Takeaway Define terms precisely. Themes communication clarity process Mood analytical pragmatic Type educational professional When to use this quote - project planning - technical documentation - team meetings Key Concepts systems theory quality management Questions to Reflect On - Why are operational definitions neglected? - How can you improve definition clarity in your team? A Different Perspective Over‑defining can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Operational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/operational/) ## Related quotes > [Back when I was looking for my next step and was researching Gannett, I was interested in who was leading the various businesses within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gracia-martore/back-when-i-was-looking-for-my-next-step-and-was-researching-gannett/) [Gracia Martore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gracia-martore/) > [While port security remains one of our single greatest vulnerabilities, it makes little sense to give operational control of our ports to a foreign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-reichert/while-port-security-remains-one-of-our-single-greatest/) [Dave Reichert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-reichert/) > [...operational proof...it's all theory until you see for yourself whether or not something works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/operational-proof-it-s-all-theory-until-you-see-for-yourself-whether/) [Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/) > [Generally, what people tend to underestimate is the cyborg nature of Groupon. We are a company that has the DNA of being both a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mason/generally-what-people-tend-to-underestimate-is-the-cyborg-nature-of/) [Andrew Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mason/) > [According to 'Star Trek' mythos, Starfleet Command - operational headquarters for a flotilla of craft that keep the cosmic peace - is located in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/according-to-star-trek-mythos-starfleet-command-operational/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [I don't know what 'operational control' of the border means, but I do understand the English language. And as I understand that phrase, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/i-don-t-know-what-operational-control-of-the-border-means-but-i-do/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [We like scalable companies that we think we can grow - because of our expertise, operational is consumer-facing. For the most part, consumer-facing, technology-driven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gilbert/we-like-scalable-companies-that-we-think-we-can-grow-because-of-our/) [Dan Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gilbert/) > [We must focus much more on developing countries' own policies and priorities, and increase policy and operational coherence between national, regional and multilateral actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-lindh/we-must-focus-much-more-on-developing-countries-own-policies-and/) [Anna Lindh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-lindh/) > [When it comes to the real operational issues that govern our understanding of physical reality, ontological definitions of classical philosophers are, in my opinion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-m-krauss/when-it-comes-to-the-real-operational-issues-that-govern-our/) [Lawrence M. Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-m-krauss/) > [We had at our disposal the first operational jet, which superseded by at least 150 knots the fastest American and English fighters. This was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-galland/we-had-at-our-disposal-the-first-operational-jet-which-superseded-by/) [Adolf Galland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-galland/) > [In effect, you cannot stop Iraq from growing nasty bugs in the basement. You can stop them from putting operational warheads on working missiles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/in-effect-you-cannot-stop-iraq-from-growing-nasty-bugs-in-the/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [I'm not going to go into operational matters, obviously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-andrews/i-m-not-going-to-go-into-operational-matters-obviously/) Kevin Andrews > [Shortly after we arrived in Baghdad, we had another conversation with the ambassador. He said that he wanted us to give him the timeline,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-karpinski/shortly-after-we-arrived-in-baghdad-we-had-another-conversation-with/) [Janis Karpinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-karpinski/) > [“They’re measurements which express the goal of making money perfectly well, but which also permit you to develop operational rules for running your plant,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliyahu-m-goldratt/they-re-measurements-which-express-the-goal-of-making-money-perfectly/) [Eliyahu M. Goldratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliyahu-m-goldratt/) > [Chains do more than bargain down prices from suppliers or divide fixed costs across a lot of units. They rapidly spread economic discovery -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/chains-do-more-than-bargain-down-prices-from-suppliers-or-divide/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) ## 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 Definitions quotes > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [The poet reminds men of their uniqueness and it is not necessary to possess the ultimate definition of this uniqueness. Even to speculate is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-poet-reminds-men-of-their-uniqueness-and-it-is-not-necessary-to/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Bruce Katz is a spectacular talent! He's a brilliant composer and arranger who uses uncommon and unique musical intelligence to redefine jazz and blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-coryell/bruce-katz-is-a-spectacular-talent-he-s-a-brilliant-composer-and/) [Larry Coryell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-coryell/) > [But when you have to deal with notes, and to be able to make a full definition of what a sound is - if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-brown/but-when-you-have-to-deal-with-notes-and-to-be-able-to-make-a-full/) [Dennis Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-brown/) > [ The self is defined psychologically as the psychic totality of the individual. Anything that a \[person\] postulates as being a greater totality than \[oneself\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-self-is-defined-psychologically-as-the-psychic-totality-of-the/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [Before I had kids, I thought you should never lie to a kid. But now I've had them, I realize you almost lie to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/before-i-had-kids-i-thought-you-should-never-lie-to-a-kid-but-now-i/) [Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/) > [my definition of the ideal man is 'that particular man with whom a woman happens to be in love at that particular time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-boothe-luce/my-definition-of-the-ideal-man-is-that-particular-man-with-whom-a/) [Clare Boothe Luce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-boothe-luce/) > [He emphasised basic truths: you are not dying yet, you have to live your life until you are. Underpinning them was the belief that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/he-emphasised-basic-truths-you-are-not-dying-yet-you-have-to-live/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [My briefest ever definition of science fiction is 'Hubris clobbered by Nemesis.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-aldiss/my-briefest-ever-definition-of-science-fiction-is-hubris-clobbered-by/) [Brian Aldiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-aldiss/) > [Was man made stupid to see his own stupidity? Is God by definition indifferent, beyond us all? Is the eternal truth man's fighting soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-eberhart/was-man-made-stupid-to-see-his-own-stupidity-is-god-by-definition/) [Richard Eberhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-eberhart/) > [Science manipulates things and gives up living in them. It makes its own limited models of things; operating upon these indices or variables to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-merleau-ponty/science-manipulates-things-and-gives-up-living-in-them-it-makes-its/) [Maurice Merleau-Ponty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-merleau-ponty/) > [The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, selfappointed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-accumulation-of-all-powers-legislative-executive-and-judiciary-in/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [“I'm going to use them to track him down and thwart him." "Thwart?" Sarissa asked. "Thwart." I said. "To prevent someone from accomplishing something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-m-going-to-use-them-to-track-him-down-and-thwart-him-thwart-sarissa/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [A design may be called organic when there is an harmonious organization of the parts within the whole, according to structure, material, and purpose.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-noyes/a-design-may-be-called-organic-when-there-is-an-harmonious/) Eliot Noyes > [Of Rhetoric various definitions have been given by different writers; who, however, seem not so much to have disagreed in their conceptions of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/of-rhetoric-various-definitions-have-been-given-by-different-writers/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) Browse all 2,047 Definitions quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No requirement of industry is so much neglected as operational definitions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "W. 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