Why Not Everything Should Be Optimized
The 'Efficiency Trap' kills brand soul. An analysis of why intentional inefficiencies are a vital part of resilient architecture.
Strategy views "Optimization" as an unalloyed good.It is argued that Hyper - Optimization Leads to Brittleness. A system without "slack" lacks humanity.
The Efficiency Trap
Optimizing everything removes "human friction." A perfectly optimized system is soulless.This is the "Efficiency Trap": winning the metric battle while losing the identity war.
Intentional inefficiency signals a human mind behind the system.
"Resilience comes from slack. Soul comes from the parts of the system that aren't for sale."
The Architecture of Slack
Resilient systems require Intentional Resilience:
- Boutique Friction: Deliberately slowing moments to create ritual.
- Exploratory Margins: Allocating resources to creative acts without immediate ROI.
- Human Overrides: Ensuring the machine never has the final word on empathy.
The Value of the Suboptimal
The architect's responsibility is to know what not to optimize. By protecting the "unproductive," the soul is preserved. In an age of automation, wisdom dictates remaining imperfect.