| "As computer hardware capacity increases, software | | | | This is but one example of Parkinson's Law as applied |
| becomes more bloated." | | | | in computing.An another example, let's consider data |
| - Bryce's LawINTRODUCTIONEver wonder why our | | | | transmission lines as used in networking. It doesn't |
| computers typically last no more than three years? | | | | seem long ago we were using 14.4 baud modems |
| Many contend it is because of the fast pace of | | | | over telephone lines. I remember when we doubled |
| technological advancements. Maybe. But I tend to | | | | the speed to 28.8 and then 56.4. It seemed like the |
| believe there is a little more to it than just that, | | | | sky was the limit with every increase. But eventually |
| namely "Parkinson's Law." For those of you who may | | | | performance seemed to slow to a crawl. Was it |
| have forgotten, "Parkinson's Law" was devised by C. | | | | because the technology was aging or was it because |
| Northcote Parkinson, noted British historian and | | | | our web pages were becoming bigger and more |
| author. His original book, "Parkinson's Law: The Pursuit | | | | complicated requiring greater data volume over the |
| of Progress," was introduced in 1958 and was a | | | | lines? Frankly, it was the latter. Today, DSL and cable |
| top-selling management book for a number of years | | | | are commonplace in households as well as in business |
| (it is still sold today). The book was based on his | | | | and "dial-up" is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. |
| experience with the British Civil Service. Among his | | | | But as data volume increases with the number of |
| key observation's was that "work expands so as to | | | | subscribers, will we ever hit a wall in terms of |
| fill the time available for its completion." Basically, he | | | | capacity with DSL and cable? Undoubtedly. Again, |
| suggests that people make work in order to | | | | more due to Parkinson's Law then anything else.Make |
| rationalize their employment. Consequently, managers | | | | no mistake, computer hardware and software |
| create bureaucracies and superfluous work to justify | | | | vendors are acutely aware of the role of Parkinson's |
| their existence, not because it is really needed.As an | | | | Law. It is what allows them to build-in planned |
| aside, CEO's clearly understood Parkinson's Law, | | | | obsolescence into their products. As consumers reach |
| which became the driving force behind the flattening | | | | capacity, they can either add additional capacity or, |
| of corporations in the 1990's, such as General Electric | | | | more likely, purchase new computers.There is |
| under Jack Welch's reign.AS APPLIED TO | | | | undoubtedly an incestuous relationship between |
| INFORMATION TECHNOLOGYWhereas Parkinson | | | | hardware and software vendors. Hardware |
| was primarily concerned with people, his law is equally | | | | enhancements are primarily implemented to increase |
| applicable to machines, particularly computers; for | | | | capacity in order to overcome software |
| example, Parkinson's Law can be applied to | | | | inefficiencies, and software vendors make their |
| computing in terms of "Data expands to fill the space | | | | products more bloated as hardware enhancements |
| available for storage." Years ago I had a Compaq | | | | are introduced. To illustrate the point, is it a |
| Presario computer with 50mb of disk space, which I | | | | coincidence that every major release of Windows |
| considered substantial at the time. I never dreamt I | | | | requires additional hardware support? Hardly. This is |
| would be able to fill up the hard drive. But, of course, | | | | done more by design than by |
| I did (as well as other PC's I have had over the | | | | accident.CONCLUSIONParkinson's Law is just as much |
| years). My current PC has a hard drive with a | | | | a part of computer technology as it is in the |
| capacity of 224gb and though I'm a long way from | | | | corporate world. But what would happen if we |
| filling it up, inevitably I know I will for two reasons: I | | | | decided to "flatten" computer technology in the same |
| now feel more comfortable with downloading large | | | | manner that Jack Welch flattened G.E.? Keep in mind, |
| multimedia files (MP3, AVI, WMV, etc.), PDF files, | | | | Welch did so to eliminate bureaucracy and force his |
| data base files, and other larger file formats, and; | | | | workers to become more efficient and focus on the |
| Second, because developers have become sloppy in | | | | true problems at hand. By flattening the "bloatware" |
| programming.Back when memory and disk space | | | | we would probably get a lot more mileage out of our |
| were at a premium, there was great concern over | | | | computers. But I guess that wouldn't be good for |
| the efficient use of computer resources. Program | | | | selling computers (or the economy).I guess |
| code was written very tightly and consideration was | | | | Parkinson's Law and the viscous circle of computing |
| given to file size. For example, establishing a simple | | | | will be with us for quite some time.Tim Bryce is the |
| file index was scrutinized carefully. But as the | | | | Managing Director of M. Bryce & Associates (MBA) |
| computer capacity grew and hardware prices | | | | of Palm Harbor, Florida, a management consulting firm |
| declined, developers became less interested in | | | | specializing in Information Resource Management |
| efficient programming. To illustrate, not too long ago | | | | (IRM). Mr. Bryce has over 30 years of experience in |
| packaged software installation programs were | | | | the field. He is available for training and consulting on |
| delivered on 3.5" diskettes. Today, it is not | | | | an international basis. His corporate web page is at: |
| uncommon to use multiple CD's to install the same | | | | can be contacted at: Copyright 2006 MBA. All rights |
| products. This means that as computer hardware | | | | reserved. |
| capacity increases, software becomes more bloated. | | | | |