Parkinson's Law

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Description of Parkinson's Law. Explanation.

Definition Parkinson's Law. Description.

According to Parkinson's Law, work in organizations expands to fill the time available for its completion. Managers want to multiply subordinates, not rivals, and they  make work for each other. As a result, companies are growing just for the sake of growth in numbers of employees and people become busier and busier, even though the companies are not making more money.

This humorous, cynical look at corporate life was published in 1958 in a book by C. Northcote Parkinson - Parkinson's Law.

Forum

Jim Tressor - USA

Not so Fast

"I don't think Parkinson's Law is always valid at all. Sure there are situations, such as in large companies, where less is more, but in general I dont think this is true. Check out this article for examples of how this may not be true: economist.com/businessfinance/management/displayStory.cfm?story_id=14116121&source=hptextfeature"

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Joe Geisler - Netherland

Parkinson Law is valid

"Yes, any company makes itself bigger than it can. It makes its own growth with all production factors, without competing, without efficient labor and intelligence productivity analysis. It seems odd, however it is true."

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Kay Moodley - South Africa

Parkinson's Law in Call Centers

"I still question the validity of this approach in a real time servicing enviroment ?? any thoughts"

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Compare with: Peter Principle  |  Organizational Configurations  |  Organization Chart

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End of description Parkinson's Law. An explanation.