Building Quote by William McDonough
“Peter Drucker has pointed out that it is a manager's job to "do things right." It is an executive's job to make sure "the right things" get done. Even the most rigorous eco-efficient business paradigm does not challenge basic practices and methods: a shoe, building, factory, car, or shampoo can remain fundamentally ill-designed even as the materials and processes involved in its manufacture become more "efficient."”
About This Quote
Source Book: Cradle to Cradle, 2002
Managers should ensure actions are correct while executives ensure the right goals; efficiency alone cannot fix fundamentally flawed designs.
In simple terms: Right actions vs. right goals; efficiency isn’t enough.
Key Takeaway
Align goals with sound design, not just efficiency.
Themes
management
design
efficiency
ethics
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
explanatory
thought‑provoking
When to use this quote
- product development
- corporate strategy
- policy making
- environmental planning
Key Concepts
systems thinking
sustainable design
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify that a design is fundamentally sound?
- What metrics capture goal relevance beyond efficiency?
A Different Perspective
Efficiency can mask deeper design flaws.
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