Anthony Stafford Beer Quotes

The purpose of a system is what it does. There is after all, no point in claiming that the purpose of a system is to do what it constantly fails to do.

Anthony Stafford Beer

• Purpose
• System
• To Do

It is the concept of likelihood that a real understanding of probability resides, and we must learn how to measure it.

Anthony Stafford Beer

• Understanding
• Measure
• Probability

If cybernetics is the science of control, management is the profession of control.

Anthony Stafford Beer

• Control
• Management
• Cybernetics

The strategies that managers employ are at least as important as the facilities at their disposal.

Anthony Stafford Beer

• Managers
• Strategies
• Facilities

Too close a view may interfere with one's grasp of an overall problem or concept.

Anthony Stafford Beer

• Problem
• View
• Grasp

A stochastic process is about the results of convolving probabilities-which is just what management is about, as well.

Anthony Stafford Beer

• Process
• Probabilities
• Stochastic

Management problems are not respecters of the company organization, nor of the talents of the people appointed to solve them.

Anthony Stafford Beer

• Problems
• Organization
• Management

Instead of trying to specify a system in full detail, specify it only somewhat. You can then ride on the dynamics of the system in the direction you want to go.

Anthony Stafford Beer

• Direction
• System
• Detail

It is terribly important to appreciate that some things remain obscure to the bitter end.

Anthony Stafford Beer

• Things
• End
• Obscure

Policy-making, decision-taking, and control: These are the three functions of management that have intellectual content.

Anthony Stafford Beer

• Control
• Decision
• Policy