Complexity

SAP has got a print ad that reads, "Complexity...is 50% legacy, 50% interim and 50% duct tape." It's not only apropos of computer systems that have been customized but all business systems. In manufacturing, a simple temporary deviation on engineering specifications stays in place and the issue never gets resolved. In retail, coping with product shortages creates discounts that as a policy stay in place without fixing the reason for shortages.

A lot of what we do in business is because "we've always done it this way." We haven't asked ourselves if there's a better way to get things done. The reengineering movement of thirty years ago tried to get us to start over with a blank piece of paper and redesign our policies, processes and procedures to get the results we desire.

Too many times a quick fix becomes the permanent fix...but it's not really a good fix, nor the easiest or best fix.