It's a common lament that our lives are so complex. Yet I wonder whether we have brought this upon ourselves--I don't think I've ever heard in any management conversation the phrase "paying for simplicity".
From a marketing perspective, this is perfectly reasonable. You can't sell simplicity. However, you can sell functionality and you can sell number of lines of code. More is often seen as better in tech products, and is directionally proportional to value. I am particularly reminded of the Dilbert strip about the management initiative that rewards a programmer for the number of lines of code written. It so neatly sums up the dilemma of the modern world.
We want lots of functionality in products, even if that functionality doesn't really add any value to our particular usage. As a seller of the product, I can extol the virtues of the various complex and intriguing features that no other competitor can provide. In comparison, as a buyer I have a perception that I am getting more value for money. We perceive that functionality introduces complexity and assume inversely that this greater complexity brings increased functionality.
Large systems are built from multiple components, yet usually only possess one correct mode of operation. Yet if you can reduce the complexity of components in the system--without sacrificing functionality--then it stands to reason that you can substantially improve the reliability of the product, reduce the consumption of resources and improve the performance.
However, simplicity requires effort. It comes from a more involved understanding of the problem you are solving and greater refinement of the approach to the solution. The trouble also is that complexity has substance while simplicity has only less complexity-that is, we don't seem capable of measuring the lack of complexity.
Until we recognise explicitly that simplicity has value in a product and we actively scan for this, simplicity will remain the last concern in commercial product development. That is, simplicity will not be built into products and new releases of products will continue to exponentially consume resources during implementation, installation and operation.
Jon Barnett is director and senior consultant at Amity Solutions. He can be contacted at j.barnett@amitysolutions.com.au
I think the classic case of where simplicity wins over complexity is : Google
I was always amused hearing people talk about how 'portals' needed to add more and more features. Meanwhile, Google just concentrated on continually improving one thing - searching the web