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Parkinson's Law in IT

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



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