Parkinson's Law - Explained
What is Parkinson's Law?
Written by J. Mance Gordon
Updated at April 22nd, 2024
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What is Parkinson’s Law?
Parkinson's Law, created by Northcote Parkins (1955), states that "work expands to fill the time available for its completion". Parkinson's Law is applicable at the individual, group, and organizational levels.
As a result, companies are growing just for the sake of growth in numbers of employees and people become busier and busier, even though they are neither becoming more successful, nor are they making (more) money.
What are the Assumptions of Parkinson’s Law?
Parkinson says there are two factors that underlie the general tendency to which his law gives definition:
- The Law of Multiplication of Subordinates: An official wants to multiply subordinates, not rivals.
- The Law of Multiplication of Work: Officials make work for each other.