Image for McKeen's Law

McKeen's Law

McKeen’s Law suggests that as organizations increase in size, their growth in complexity tends to outpace their ability to manage it effectively. Essentially, the more a company or system expands, the more complicated it becomes to oversee, making it harder to maintain efficiency and control. This implies that growth can inadvertently lead to increased bureaucratic layers, communication challenges, and management difficulties, often requiring more sophisticated strategies to remain effective. The law highlights the importance of balancing growth with thoughtful organizational design to prevent complexity from hindering progress.