I have a working theory that complexity doesn’t disappear, but moves from one part of a system to another. Analogous to the principle of the conservation of energy, I think of this as the conservation of complexity.
I don’t know how to prove the theory but there is ample data to support the idea.
- Amazon’s web interface lets you buy an item with one click and have it delivered the next day. They’ve absorbed massive internal complexity to make that happen. This is true for Uber, Google maps, and all the successful ecommerce applications. Simplicity for the consumer, phenomenal logistics complexity for the provider.
- HR and IT departments create elaborate self-serve transaction systems. The responsibility and weight of work falls on employees more than the shrinking internal HR and IT departments. Simpler for the departments, more complexity for employees.
- Many process improvement efforts move the work “elsewhere,” unless they outright eliminate steps. True reduction of work is uncommon.
- Many of the labor-saving devices of the 20th century reduced certain kinds of work, but came with increased expectations for getting more done. The complexity moved from the labor of one task to the additional portfolio of work to be accomplished overall.
- Plants and animals and microbes exhibit many simple behaviors, especially default responses to stimuli. There are astounding levels of complexity below those responses.
My suggestion is that leaders pay attention to where complexity is moving around, and be realistic about claims of simplicity on the far side of complexity.
