'Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex and more violent. It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction' - Albert Einstein.
The above statement made me think about various systems around us, which were intentionally made complex. For example, most of the government systems are highly complex with multi-layer approvals. As a student of commerce, I remember reading the principle of multi-layer checks and balances in order to prevent irregularities. Thus, with good intentions, we created huge, complex and multi-layer systems. And what was the result? We have a system where the files move from table to table endlessly; there is unusual delay in most of the projects; the efficiency is highly compromised; and most importantly, we have corruption at each level! So, like the Frankenstein's monster, a system that was designed to keep irregularities away, itself resulted in corruption at a larger magnitude!
Another problem with such systems is that they become cumbersome and difficult to understand for the common man. This gives rise to a new breed of professionals who offer simple solutions in the complex system. We first create a complex system and then build many sub-systems around it to simplify the same! Let us take for example, the taxation system. It became so complex over the years, with multiple rates, differential rates, variety of exemptions and umpteen number of modifications. Tax evasion became a creative activity and many people thrived on the loopholes inherent there. Finally, we needed a Tax Reforms Committee to suggest that the whole system be made simple and straight forward.
A third problem with such a system is that it kills creativity. Any creative activity requires certain degree of flexibility, which these systems never allow. Let me look at the initiatives that are being taken at the higher education system. Due to various regulatory requirements, we have so many standardized procedures to follow and documents to prepare, that a teacher works more like a machine and less like a teacher. While people take pride in saying that they are an ISO certified institute, I wonder, whether teaching can ever be standardized to suit the ISO requirements!
Even at an individual level, we all make many things around us highly complicated. Just look around, and I am sure, we would all be amazed to see how complex some of our daily activities are; and more interestingly, we have only made them so! The word 'complex' has a different meaning in Psychology. Carl Jung defines 'Complex' as 'personal, unconscious core pattern of emotions, memories, perceptions and wishes organised around a common theme'. Here the common theme must be 'simplicity', that drives us to create simple and straight forward systems which are highly efficient. So, what we really need is 'Simplicity Complex' and not simple complexity!
The above statement made me think about various systems around us, which were intentionally made complex. For example, most of the government systems are highly complex with multi-layer approvals. As a student of commerce, I remember reading the principle of multi-layer checks and balances in order to prevent irregularities. Thus, with good intentions, we created huge, complex and multi-layer systems. And what was the result? We have a system where the files move from table to table endlessly; there is unusual delay in most of the projects; the efficiency is highly compromised; and most importantly, we have corruption at each level! So, like the Frankenstein's monster, a system that was designed to keep irregularities away, itself resulted in corruption at a larger magnitude!
Another problem with such systems is that they become cumbersome and difficult to understand for the common man. This gives rise to a new breed of professionals who offer simple solutions in the complex system. We first create a complex system and then build many sub-systems around it to simplify the same! Let us take for example, the taxation system. It became so complex over the years, with multiple rates, differential rates, variety of exemptions and umpteen number of modifications. Tax evasion became a creative activity and many people thrived on the loopholes inherent there. Finally, we needed a Tax Reforms Committee to suggest that the whole system be made simple and straight forward.
A third problem with such a system is that it kills creativity. Any creative activity requires certain degree of flexibility, which these systems never allow. Let me look at the initiatives that are being taken at the higher education system. Due to various regulatory requirements, we have so many standardized procedures to follow and documents to prepare, that a teacher works more like a machine and less like a teacher. While people take pride in saying that they are an ISO certified institute, I wonder, whether teaching can ever be standardized to suit the ISO requirements!
Even at an individual level, we all make many things around us highly complicated. Just look around, and I am sure, we would all be amazed to see how complex some of our daily activities are; and more interestingly, we have only made them so! The word 'complex' has a different meaning in Psychology. Carl Jung defines 'Complex' as 'personal, unconscious core pattern of emotions, memories, perceptions and wishes organised around a common theme'. Here the common theme must be 'simplicity', that drives us to create simple and straight forward systems which are highly efficient. So, what we really need is 'Simplicity Complex' and not simple complexity!
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