Increased complexity through simplification
I've noticed something that seems to cross many aspects of society, that is showing up at work. I believe the work load of corporate bureaucracy is kept at an equilibrium state by the people whose job such bureaucracy depends on. Therefore when ever productivity is increased by better production systems, the complexity of bureaucracy will increase in kind.
For example, as our company approaches a "paperless" society by moving more reports on to the computer, it also creates many more reports that must be created. Our new bonus program must be all entered into the computer with several phases that need appropriate check marks in our files. Now they are generating reports on how our goals were reported.....
I also see it taking place in the tax code. As more people use computers to do their taxes, the calculations get more complicated. It takes me longer to do my taxes on the computer now then it did on paper a few years ago (but, if I had to do them on paper now, it would take 10x longer)
For example, as our company approaches a "paperless" society by moving more reports on to the computer, it also creates many more reports that must be created. Our new bonus program must be all entered into the computer with several phases that need appropriate check marks in our files. Now they are generating reports on how our goals were reported.....
I also see it taking place in the tax code. As more people use computers to do their taxes, the calculations get more complicated. It takes me longer to do my taxes on the computer now then it did on paper a few years ago (but, if I had to do them on paper now, it would take 10x longer)