It does not follow from the separation of planning and doing in the analysis of work that the planner and the doer should be two different people. It does not follow that the industrial world should be divided into two classes of people: a few who decide what is to be done, design the job, set the pace, rhythm and motions, and order others about; and the many who do what and as they are told. -- The Practice of Management (1954)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Separating planning from doing in analysis does not mean they must be done by different people or classes.
- In plain terms
- Planning and doing can be done by the same person, not split into separate groups.
- What can you take from it?
- Avoid creating rigid class divides between decision-makers and workers.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How much planning should workers participate in?
- Does separating roles create unnecessary distance?
Another view
Some complex tasks may still require specialized planning roles.
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