WIST Quotations

Drucker, Peter F. -- “How to be an Effective Executive,” Nation’s Business (Apr 1961)

Dave — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:44:12 +0000

Nothing that man does is eternal.

Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
“How to be an Effective Executive,” Nation’s Business (Apr 1961)

Drucker, Peter F. -- (1969)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

Do not believe that it is very much of an advance to do the unnecessary three times as fast.

Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
(1969)

On computers

Drucker, Peter F. -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

My greatest strength as a consultant is to be ignorant and ask a few questions.

Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
(Attributed)

Drucker, Peter F. -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

So much of what we call management consists in making it difficult for people to work.

Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
(Attributed)

Drucker, Peter F. -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.

Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
(Attributed)

Drucker, Peter F. -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn’t being said.

Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
(Attributed)

Drucker, Peter F. -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

Wherever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision.

Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
(Attributed)

Broadly attributed to Drucker, but no actual writing or citeable speech can be found.

Drucker, Peter F. -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.

Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
(Attributed)

Drucker, Peter F. -- (Attributed)

Dave — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 13:40:59 +0000

What gets measured, gets managed.

Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
(Attributed)

Frequently cited, but not sourced. Cf. Lord Kelvin.

Drucker, Peter F. -- (Attributed)

Dave — Mon, 08 May 2017 22:17:20 +0000

Culture eats strategy for breakfast.

Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
(Attributed)

Frequently attributed to Drucker, but not found in his writings. See here for more discussion.

Drucker, Peter F. -- (Attributed)

Dave — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 21:52:01 +0000

Never push loyal people to the point where they don’t give a damn.

Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
(Attributed)

A close variant, sometimes identified with Drucker: "Never push a loyal person to the point where they no longer care."

Drucker, Peter F. -- Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices, ch. 2 (1974)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

Efficiency is doing things right. Effectiveness is doing the right things.

Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices, ch. 2 (1974)

Sometimes quoted as "Management" and "Leadership"; also attrib. Warren Bennis

Drucker, Peter F. -- Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices, ch. 28 (1974)

Dave — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:55:06 +0000

Integrity is the one absolute requirement of managers.

Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices, ch. 28 (1974)

Drucker, Peter F. -- Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices, ch. 29 (1974)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

The understanding that underlies the right decision grows out of the clash and conflict of opinions and out of the serious consideration of competing alternatives.

Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices, ch. 29 (1974)

Drucker, Peter F. -- Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices, ch. 30 (1974)

Dave — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 12:36:58 +0000

The danger of total propaganda is not that the propaganda will be believed. The danger is that nothing will be believed. … The end result of total propaganda are not fanatics, but cynics.

Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices, ch. 30 (1974)

Drucker, Peter F. -- Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices, ch. 8 (1977 ed.)

Dave — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 15:45:12 +0000

What makes a plan capable of producing results is the commitment of key people to work on specific tasks.

Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices, ch. 8 (1977 ed.)

Drucker, Peter F. -- Managing in Turbulent Times, ch. 1 “Managing the Fundamentals” (1980)

Dave — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 13:08:52 +0000

The productivity of work is not the responsibility of the worker but of the manager.

Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
Managing in Turbulent Times, ch. 1 “Managing the Fundamentals” (1980)
(Source)

Drucker, Peter F. -- The Effective Executive, 4.2 (1967)

Dave — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:10:14 +0000

It requires building on strength to make weaknesses irrelevant. Few things make an executive as effective as building on the strength of his superior.

Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
The Effective Executive, 4.2 (1967)

Drucker, Peter F. -- The Effective Executive, 4.2.4 (1967)

Dave — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:57:55 +0000

No decision has been made unless carrying it out in specific steps has become someone’s work assignment and responsibility.

Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
The Effective Executive, 4.2.4 (1967)