--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The ultimate purpose of collecting the…" description: "\"The ultimate purpose of collecting the data is to provide a basis for action or a recommendation.\" — W. Edwards Deming" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f8/w-edwards-deming-1337_action_the-ultimate-purpose-of-collecting-the-d_421765.jpg" --- # The ultimate purpose of collecting the data is to provide… ![“The ultimate purpose of collecting the data is to provide a basis for action or a recommendation.” quote by W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f8/w-edwards-deming-1337_action_the-ultimate-purpose-of-collecting-the-d_421765.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f8/w-edwards-deming-1337_action_the-ultimate-purpose-of-collecting-the-d_421765.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f8/w-edwards-deming-1337_action_the-ultimate-purpose-of-collecting-the-d_421765.jpg) > “The ultimate purpose of collecting the data is to provide a basis for action or a recommendation.” [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. Data should be gathered to inform decisions and guide recommendations, not just for its own sake. **In simple terms:** Data exists to drive action. Key Takeaway Use data to shape choices. Themes decisionmaking data action Mood analytical pragmatic Type advisory practical When to use this quote - business strategy - policy development - research - product design Key Concepts statistics quality management Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure data leads to effective action? - What safeguards prevent misinterpretation of data? A Different Perspective Data alone cannot guarantee good outcomes without proper interpretation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Data](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/data/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) ## Related quotes > [“The purpose of collecting so much information can only be power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-drake/the-purpose-of-collecting-so-much-information-can-only-be-power/) [Nick Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-drake/) > [The possibilities for creation and insight are endless. We're constantly collecting more data, and it's starting to be very relevant to our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-koblin/the-possibilities-for-creation-and-insight-are-endless-we-re/) [Aaron Koblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-koblin/) > [Scientific data are not taken for museum purposes; they are taken as a basis for doing something. If nothing is to be done with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/scientific-data-are-not-taken-for-museum-purposes-they-are-taken-as-a/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [“Am I, then, a beast, that I should risk my life merely for the sake of my body, and for the purpose of collecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioannes-amos-commenius/am-i-then-a-beast-that-i-should-risk-my-life-merely-for-the-sake-of/) Ioannes Amos Commenius > [“When life is this dull, you have to invent purpose. Collecting torn-up newspaper gives you a hobby, provides an anchoring intimacy with your surroundings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-masters/when-life-is-this-dull-you-have-to-invent-purpose-collecting-torn-up/) [Alexander Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-masters/) > [Scientists like ripping problems apart, collecting as much data as possible and then assembling the parts back together to make a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-m-tilghman/scientists-like-ripping-problems-apart-collecting-as-much-data-as/) Shirley M. Tilghman > [To be honest, more than what I prepare, it's the directors who do the bulk of the work, researching, collecting data and all that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dhanush/to-be-honest-more-than-what-i-prepare-it-s-the-directors-who-do-the/) [Dhanush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dhanush/) > [“durable. Guidelines to start the MPS portrait In this session we start with the first step: collecting data from others. From this range of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-humberto-young/durable-guidelines-to-start-the-mps-portrait-in-this-session-we-start/) Juan Humberto Young > [“Collecting data is easy; writing about data is hard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-j-silvia/collecting-data-is-easy-writing-about-data-is-hard/) [Paul J. Silvia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-j-silvia/) > [“They were learning fast, or at least collecting data, which they considered to be the same as learning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/they-were-learning-fast-or-at-least-collecting-data-which-they/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It was becoming clearer and clearer that if I wanted to come to the end of my life and not say, “I’ve wasted it!”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/it-was-becoming-clearer-and-clearer-that-if-i-wanted-to-come-to-the/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [What is the ultimate purpose of life? It's to give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narayanan-krishnan/what-is-the-ultimate-purpose-of-life-it-s-to-give/) [Narayanan Krishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narayanan-krishnan/) > [For many years, I have lived uncomfortably with the belief that most planning and architectural design suffers for lack of real and basic purpose.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rouse/for-many-years-i-have-lived-uncomfortably-with-the-belief-that-most/) [James Rouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rouse/) > [I have always believed that the ultimate purpose of economic policies and development policy is to meet the basic needs of our people. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manmohan-singh/i-have-always-believed-that-the-ultimate-purpose-of-economic-policies/) [Manmohan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manmohan-singh/) > [The one function that most gods seem to have in common is to give human existence some ultimate purpose - and, while it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-smoker/the-one-function-that-most-gods-seem-to-have-in-common-is-to-give/) [Barbara Smoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-smoker/) ## 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 Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [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/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“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 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/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The ultimate purpose of collecting the data is to provide a basis for action or a recommendation.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "W. 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