The Exponential Backlog Theorem
Perhaps you've come across the saying "The more you know, the more you don't know." I find it applicable to science: how new discoveries lead to more inquiries, how answers lead to more questions. I think a similar rule could apply to work, specifically, arrears of work. I call this the Exponential Backlog Theorem.
This theorem can be stated as "The more you work you do, the more work there is left to be done." This statement does not defy the elementary laws of algebra. It simply happens that sometimes, as we plough through backlog work, we discover more work that needs to be done. And this could happen several times in the process, that instead of feeling that we are finishing work, we instead feel that we are now more buried with work than when we've started.
The proof of this theorem is, as you've guessed, trivial. And, following the age-old tradition of scientific publications, the proof is left for the readers as an exercise. く
----
To find out how an approaching deadline could affect your workload, please see The Deadline Limit Theorem.
This theorem can be stated as "The more you work you do, the more work there is left to be done." This statement does not defy the elementary laws of algebra. It simply happens that sometimes, as we plough through backlog work, we discover more work that needs to be done. And this could happen several times in the process, that instead of feeling that we are finishing work, we instead feel that we are now more buried with work than when we've started.
The proof of this theorem is, as you've guessed, trivial. And, following the age-old tradition of scientific publications, the proof is left for the readers as an exercise. く
----
To find out how an approaching deadline could affect your workload, please see The Deadline Limit Theorem.
Comments
Post a Comment