Parkinson's law

Parkinson's Law is a principle that states:

"Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion."  

Formulated by Cyril Northcote Parkinson in a satirical essay published in The Economist in 1955, and later in his book Parkinson's Law: The Pursuit of Progress, the law describes a common observation about efficiency (or lack thereof) in bureaucracies and other organizations.  

Here's a breakdown of the concept:

1. Work Expands: Regardless of the actual amount of work that needs to be done, if a specific amount of time is allocated for it, the work will somehow grow in complexity and scope to occupy that entire timeframe.  
2. Bureaucratic Growth: Parkinson originally applied this to the growth of administrative staff. He proposed that officials tend to multiply subordinates and make work for each other, leading to an ever-increasing size of the administration, often irrespective of any actual increase in the work that needs to be done.  
3. Perceived Busyness: People will find ways to appear busy for the entire duration allocated, even if the task could be completed much quicker. This can involve over-complicating simple tasks, excessive reviewing, unnecessary meetings, etc.

In essence, Parkinson's Law suggests that deadlines and available time slots are often filled simply because they exist, rather than reflecting the inherent duration required for a task. While presented satirically, the observation holds significant truth in various contexts, from government administration to project management and even personal productivity. It highlights the importance of setting realistic deadlines and focusing on efficiency rather than just filling time.  

Another well-known observation from Parkinson's work is his second law: "Expenditure rises to meet income."