--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People with targets and jobs dependent…" description: "\"People with targets and jobs dependent upon meeting them will probably meet the targets - even if they have to destroy the enterprise to do it.\" — W. E..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c51/w-edwards-deming-1337_business_people-with-targets-and-jobs-dependent-u_681275.jpg" --- # People with targets and jobs dependent upon meeting them… ![“People with targets and jobs dependent upon meeting them will probably meet the targets - even if they have to destroy the enterprise to do it.” quote by W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c51/w-edwards-deming-1337_business_people-with-targets-and-jobs-dependent-u_681275.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c51/w-edwards-deming-1337_business_people-with-targets-and-jobs-dependent-u_681275.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c51/w-edwards-deming-1337_business_people-with-targets-and-jobs-dependent-u_681275.jpg) > “People with targets and jobs dependent upon meeting them will probably meet the targets - even if they have to destroy the enterprise to do it.” [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. People may meet targets by any means, even harming the organization, if incentives focus solely on results. **In simple terms:** Targets can drive destructive behavior. Key Takeaway Align incentives with sustainable outcomes. Themes management ethics performance Mood analytical pragmatic Type business ethical When to use this quote - corporate goal setting - project management - quality control Key Concepts systems thinking perverse incentives Questions to Reflect On - How can we design goals that protect the enterprise? - What safeguards prevent destructive tactics? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on metrics can damage culture. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Dependent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dependent/) [Destroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroy/) [Destroy Enterprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroy-enterprise-5390510/) [Enterprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enterprise/) [Even](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/even/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Meet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meet/) [Meet Targets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meet-targets-5067014/) [Meeting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meeting/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Targets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-targets-5390509/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Targets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/targets/) [Targets Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/targets-jobs-5390508/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) ## Related quotes > [If everyone that has agreed to the Paris Agreement wants to meet their targets they are going to have to make renewables part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ii-prince-of-monaco/if-everyone-that-has-agreed-to-the-paris-agreement-wants-to-meet/) [Albert II, Prince of Monaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ii-prince-of-monaco/) > [It is becoming clear that many diseases - especially cancer - are highly complex and may respond better to a multi-drug approach which targets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-vertes/it-is-becoming-clear-that-many-diseases-especially-cancer-are-highly/) [Eva Vertes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-vertes/) > [Setting points targets is sometimes the worst thing you can do - it puts pressure on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/setting-points-targets-is-sometimes-the-worst-thing-you-can-do-it/) [Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) > [The objective of a terrorist is to create political change in the society he targets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-objective-of-a-terrorist-is-to-create-political-change-in-the/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [FISA targets those who are 'agents of a foreign power.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/fisa-targets-those-who-are-agents-of-a-foreign-power/) [Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/) > [“To reach a target, you must never see it as unreachable!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/to-reach-a-target-you-must-never-see-it-as-unreachable/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Time spent doing whatever it is you do to escape your daily life would be better spent acquiring a life that needs no escape.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-hick/time-spent-doing-whatever-it-is-you-do-to-escape-your-daily-life/) [Shaun Hick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-hick/) > [They were targeting those people I referred to as 'little Eichmanns.' These were legitimate targets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-churchill/they-were-targeting-those-people-i-referred-to-as-little-eichmanns/) [Ward Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-churchill/) > [People are roasting each other at parties, at work events, around the fire. It's so fun. People are busting each other's chops, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-ross/people-are-roasting-each-other-at-parties-at-work-events-around-the/) [Jeff Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-ross/) > [If you want to improve, you have to set high targets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-dybala/if-you-want-to-improve-you-have-to-set-high-targets/) [Paulo Dybala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-dybala/) > [It is also right that we continue to consult with front line workers and the public to ensure that targets are reasonable and achievable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hutton/it-is-also-right-that-we-continue-to-consult-with-front-line-workers/) [John Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hutton/) > [There's Hezbollah, there's Hamas, there is a whole range of terrorist targets out there related to Palestine and to Israel that we ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-eagleburger/there-s-hezbollah-there-s-hamas-there-is-a-whole-range-of-terrorist/) [Lawrence Eagleburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-eagleburger/) > [In setting goals and executing a strategy, Wanda is sophisticated. We have good systems and departments. If targets are not reached, a yellow light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wang-jianlin/in-setting-goals-and-executing-a-strategy-wanda-is-sophisticated-we/) [Wang Jianlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wang-jianlin/) > [“You can not have empty or neutral mind, as long as you work the mind will contain dreams, if you stop working it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/you-can-not-have-empty-or-neutral-mind-as-long-as-you-work-the-mind/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) ## 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 Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/) [Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People with targets and jobs dependent upon meeting them will probably meet the targets - even if they have to destroy the enterprise to do it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "W. Edwards Deming" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/people-with-targets-and-jobs-dependent-upon-meeting-them-will/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Business" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/people-with-targets-and-jobs-dependent-upon-meeting-them-will/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c51/w-edwards-deming-1337_business_people-with-targets-and-jobs-dependent-u_681275.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c51/w-edwards-deming-1337_business_people-with-targets-and-jobs-dependent-u_681275.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c51/w-edwards-deming-1337_business_people-with-targets-and-jobs-dependent-u_681275.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People with targets and jobs dependent upon meeting them will probably meet the targets - even if they have…” — W. Edwards Deming", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "W. Edwards Deming", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People with targets and jobs dependent...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/people-with-targets-and-jobs-dependent-upon-meeting-them-will/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/people-with-targets-and-jobs-dependent-upon-meeting-them-will/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```