“The lower the rank of managers, the more they know about fewer things. The higher the rank of managers, the less they know about many things.”

— Russell L. Ackoff

Source: 2000s, A little book of f-laws: 13 common sins of management, 2006, p. 2 cited in: Gregory H. Watson (2010) "By rejecting the status quo, Russ Ackoff took systems thinking to greater heights" in: QP. vol 27, March 2010, p. 30.

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "The lower the rank of managers, the more they know about fewer things. The higher the rank of managers, the less they k…" by Russell L. Ackoff?

Russell L. Ackoff 70

Scientist 1919–2009

Related quotes

“The higher a manager’s rank is, the higher must be the requirements not only for his competence, but also for his wisdom for the correctness of each decision made.”

Zafar Mirzo (1972)

“[It was Andrew's intention to supply a] conceptual framework for thinking about the problems that confront the general manager, breaking his problems down into more manageable units, and proposing a sequence in which they might be reasonably ranked and considered.”

Kenneth R. Andrews (1916–2005) Business scholar

Source: Quote, The Concept of Strategy, 1971, p. 2

“Persons of rank do not talk about such trifles as the common people do; but the common people do not busy themselves about such frivolous things as do persons of rank.”

Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues (1715–1747) French writer, a moralist

Source: Reflections and Maxims (1746), pp. 181-182.

“I would hope that American managers - indeed, managers worldwide - continue to appreciate what I have been saying almost from day one: that management is so much more than exercising rank and privilege, that it is much more than "making deals."”

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

Management affects people and their lives.
Source: 1990s and later, Managing in a Time of Great Change (1995), p. 351

“To be a manager requires more than a title, a big office, and other outward symbols of rank. It requires competence and performance of a high order.”

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

Source: 1960s - 1980s, MANAGEMENT: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices (1973), Part 2, p. 398

“You manage things, you lead people. We went overboard on management and forgot about leadership.”

Grace Hopper (1906–1992) American computer scientist and United States Navy officer

The Wit and Wisdom of Grace Hopper (1987)
Context: You manage things, you lead people. We went overboard on management and forgot about leadership. It might help if we ran the MBAs out of Washington.