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This is one of Parkinson’s Laws: "perfection of planned layout is only achieved by institutions on the point of collapse." In the chapter "Plans and Plants" of

This is one of Parkinson’s Laws: "perfection of planned layout is only achieved by institutions on the point of collapse." In the chapter "Plans and Plants" of "Parkinson's Law" (see http://www.amazon.com/Parkinsons-Law-Cyril-Northcote-Parkinson/dp/1568490151 http://www.amazon.com/Parkinsons-Law-Cyril-Northcote-Parkins... ) he makes the point that "During a period of exciting discovery or progress there is no time to plan the perfect headquarters. The time for that comes later, when all the important work has been done. Perfection, we know, is finality; and finality is death." Parkinson reviews a number of headquarters buildings: League of Nations, Pentagon, St. Peter’s Basilica, Versailles,.... He concludes that their completion marked the sunset of the organizations that they were intended to house.

spolsky 17y ago
Absolute rubbish. I can give you just as many anecdotes to the contrary, viz.: Microsoft, Apple, Oracle, all of whom had reasonably perfect offices two decades ago.
- spolsky 17y ago
  Sheesh. I am so SICK AND TIRED of these articles that are like, "here's my anecdote, therefore, this is proof of a general pattern that's ALWAYS true." It's like people don't even have the vaguest grasp of science. Why bother when you can tell an irrelevant story about some time you spent a lot of time arguing about carpet, and then your company went down the tubes?
- jibiki 17y ago
  Parkinson published his book in 1958 :) One imagines that there were counterexamples even in his day, though. Can anyone think of some companies that were rising stars in 1958? Did they have nice offices?
  - deleted 17y ago
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- skmurphy 17y ago
  To the extent that the organization believes that it has "arrived" and the focus shifts from customers or the people that it serves to catering to the management then a gleaming headquarters serves as an outward physical manifestation of attitudes that presage decline. It could be that a gleaming headquarters blinds the leadership to threats and the need for continued change.
- billswift 17y ago
  Parkinson was writing humor. There is a core of truth to his stuff, but he obviously exaggerated for effect.

spolsky 17y ago

Absolute rubbish. I can give you just as many anecdotes to the contrary, viz.: Microsoft, Apple, Oracle, all of whom had reasonably perfect offices two decades ago.

spolsky 17y ago
Sheesh. I am so SICK AND TIRED of these articles that are like, "here's my anecdote, therefore, this is proof of a general pattern that's ALWAYS true." It's like people don't even have the vaguest grasp of science. Why bother when you can tell an irrelevant story about some time you spent a lot of time arguing about carpet, and then your company went down the tubes?
jibiki 17y ago
Parkinson published his book in 1958 :) One imagines that there were counterexamples even in his day, though. Can anyone think of some companies that were rising stars in 1958? Did they have nice offices?
- deleted 17y ago
  [deleted]
skmurphy 17y ago
To the extent that the organization believes that it has "arrived" and the focus shifts from customers or the people that it serves to catering to the management then a gleaming headquarters serves as an outward physical manifestation of attitudes that presage decline. It could be that a gleaming headquarters blinds the leadership to threats and the need for continued change.
billswift 17y ago
Parkinson was writing humor. There is a core of truth to his stuff, but he obviously exaggerated for effect.