Complexity Is Not Doing The Simple Things Well

The Tale Of The Tangled Ethernet Cables
25 September 2023 by
Complexity Is Not Doing The Simple Things Well
Expertivity Technologies , Elizabeth Hegarty

In a bustling office filled with diligent employees, there was a common nemesis that plagued their daily tasks – a web of tangled ethernet cables. These cables connected the various workstations to the network, but over time, they had evolved into a labyrinth that befuddled even the most tech-savvy among them.

One day, Sarah, a determined and resourceful employee, needed to relocate her computer to a different desk. She knew that it should have been a simple task – unplug the cables from her old workstation and connect them to the new one. But the complexity of the cable jungle turned this seemingly straightforward job into an epic quest.

As Sarah began the daunting task of deciphering the cables, she realized that they were not labelled, and their colours had faded from years of use. She painstakingly traced each cable's path, only to find that some were intertwined like spaghetti, impossible to separate without risking network disruptions.

To make matters worse, Sarah had to consult the IT department for assistance, further delaying her relocation. The IT expert arrived with a puzzled expression and spent hours trying to untangle the cables. Finally, they managed to reconnect everything, but not without inadvertently disconnecting other workstations and causing temporary chaos in the office.

The incident served as a stark reminder of how complexity, even in the form of something as seemingly trivial as tangled cables, can hinder productivity and disrupt daily workflows. In the end, the office decided to invest in cable management solutions and labelling practices to prevent such complications in the future.

This anecdote underscores the importance of simplifying processes and systems to ensure that employees can focus on their tasks instead of wrestling with unnecessary complexity. It also highlights how small issues, if left unaddressed, can escalate into major obstacles that hinder an organization's ability to get work done efficiently.


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Complexity Is Not Doing The Simple Things Well
Expertivity Technologies , Elizabeth Hegarty 25 September 2023
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