Full Idea
Utilitarianism is essentially a 'standard of rightness', not a 'decision-procedure'. ...It is an open question whether we should employ a utilitarian decision-procedure - indeed, this question itself is to be answered by examining its consequences.
Gist of Idea
Utilitarianism is not a decision-procedure; choice of the best procedure is an open question
Source
Will Kymlicka (Contemporary Political Philosophy (1st edn) [1990], 2.3.b)
Book Reference
Kymlicka,Will: 'Contemporary Political Philosophy (1st edn)' [OUP 1992], p.29
A Reaction
The point is that the aim is to maximise happiness, and you might do that by just maximising baked bean consumption, and not even thinking about happiness. This idea is labelled 'indirect utilitarianism'. Happiness does seem to be a by-product.