Instruction creep

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For the Wikipedia guideline, see Wikipedia:Avoid instruction creep.

Instruction creep occurs when instructions increase in size over time until they are unmanageable. It is an insidious disease, originating from ignorance of the KISS principle and resulting in overly complex procedures that are often misunderstood, followed with great irritation or ignored.

The fundamental fallacy of instruction creep is thinking that people read instructions. What's more, many new rules arise with the deliberate intent to control others via fiat without an adequate attempt for consensus or collaboration. This tends to antagonize others even when it appears to the instigator that he's acting with proper intent.

Instruction creep is common in complex organizations where rules and guidelines are created by changing groups of people over extended periods of time.

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