In a bustling co-working space, Cole, a young entrepreneur, has launched his own tech startup. Excited by the potential of his business idea, he assembles a small team of two engineers and an assistant to help bring his vision to life. As the startup gains traction, Cole finds himself facing the challenges of growth and managing his team's productivity. Up late at night, he thought to himself, if he just had more help and more time, business operations could be more successful. Fact or fallacy? Fallacy, Parkinson’s Law suggests that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. While the initial intent of Parkinson's Law was to critique bureaucratic inefficiency, its influence extends beyond that realm. Today, many individuals can relate to the idea that deadlines affect their productivity. Let's explore Parkinson's Law, its unintended applications, and the impact of time constraints on our work/life.
It might be the perfect time to examine this phenomenon as we have recently experienced a global pandemic where we likely had more time than we will ever have again. I joke with my family that if you didn’t clean your garage or do that project that you always said you would do during the pandemic, you are simply never going to do it! Perhaps we tell ourselves that time is a constraint that binds our productivity, however, science says that’s not exactly true. Have you heard the adage, “If you want something done, give it to a busy person”? Why is it that some people have found the key to getting things done, while others seem to struggle?
In 1955, British naval historian and author Cyril Northcote Parkinson introduced the concept of "Parkinson's Law" in an essay published in The Economist. This law suggests that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. While the initial intent of Parkinson's Law was to critique bureaucratic inefficiency, its influence extends beyond that realm. Today, many individuals can relate to the idea that deadlines affect their productivity. Originally, Parkinson's Law aimed to shed light on the expanding bureaucracy within the British Civil Service. Despite a reduction in naval ships and personnel, administrative staff continued to grow. Parkinson attributed this growth to the multiplication of subordinates which creates more work and the creation of work by bureaucrats. His observations highlight the tendency for organizations to prioritize hierarchy and perpetuate unnecessary layers of management.
Parkinson's Law resonates beyond bureaucracy, finding relevance in various domains. For instance, Stefan Thurner, a professor in Science of Complex Systems, noticed similar patterns in the expansion of bureaucracy within the Medical University of Vienna. Thurner was inspired to mathematically model Parkinson's Law and investigate its effects on organizations. His findings revealed that if administrative bodies grow at a certain rate, companies risk becoming overly bureaucratic, compromising their productivity and profitability. As layers of management are introduced, and roles become more specialized, the once nimble decision-making process starts to slow down due to increased coordination and communication challenges. The team finds themselves entangled in bureaucratic processes, spending more time on internal procedures than on product development.
Studies over the last forty years have revealed that when individuals were given extra time, tasks took longer to complete. The additional time did not lead to improved accuracy or recall ability. In contrast, working under time pressure can enhance focus and yield efficient results. However, excessively tight deadlines may lead to suboptimal outcomes due to increased stress and rushed decision-making. This leads us to the outcome that productivity is not a linear process but follows a pattern of diminishing returns on extra effort. Elizabeth Tenney, an assistant professor at the University of Utah's Eccles School of Business, suggests we should focus on finding the inflection point where benefits are maximized, and costs are minimized. It is important to strike a balance and avoid the trap of tinkering endlessly. Knowing when to wrap up a task, even if time remains, can lead to more effective use of available time.
While adhering to deadlines can enhance productivity, it is essential to consider the potential trade-offs. Focusing intensely on a task may cause other priorities to be neglected. Eldar Shafir, a professor at Princeton University, highlights the need for focused attention but warns about the consequences of overlooking other important aspects of life. Setting reasonable deadlines, prioritizing tasks, and practicing efficient work habits can help individuals navigate the complexities of time constraints. Excessive growth of a team, without proper streamlining, can hamper productivity and stifle innovation.
One approach is to introduce flatter hierarchies, emphasizing collaboration and cross-functional responsibilities. In this structure the goal would be to establish clear deadlines and set realistic time constraints to prevent unnecessary delays. By implementing smarter workflows, leveraging modern project management tools, and promoting effective communication, your team can successfully tackle the challenges of growth. It is vital to prioritize tasks, ensuring that time is allocated efficiently and that team members have the mental bandwidth to focus on critical activities. This streamlined approach allows teams to meet their targets effectively, resulting in improved productivity and a more innovative work environment. It is important to recognize the importance of finding the right balance between growth and maintaining an efficient, agile team.
If you continue to embrace a forward-thinking mindset and understand that as your business/life expands further, you must remain vigilant, regularly reassessing your plans, and striking the optimal balance between growth and productivity to ensure long-term success.