Perfect is the enemy of good
The aphorism is commonly attributed to Voltaire. In the workplace sometimes rephrased as “better done than perfect.”
It is a principle that insinuates the insistence on perfection prevents implementation of good improvements. Because achieving absolute perfection may even be impossible; one should not let the struggle for perfection stand in the way of executing on something that is imperfect but still of value.
Patterns behind the principle
It often takes 20% of the full time to complete 80% of a task, while to complete the last 20% of a task takes 80% of the effort. Achieving absolute perfection may be impossible and so, as increasing effort results in diminishing returns, further activity becomes increasingly inefficient.
Working on anything requires significant investment in time and resources, which means that the risk of getting it wrong is high. As a result, we get caught up in planning cycles and getting every detail perfect—missing valuable opportunities to react fast to changes in the marketplace and get feedback from the people we build for.
We can never have all the necessary information to build the right ”it”. While we can build upon our experience and researched information, people’s needs change and thus the solution has to change. Waiting on the perfect solution delays any early benefit.
Questions to reflect if something is good enough
“Is the current status notably bad so that it affect the chance of success?” If not: publish your solution.
“How certain are we that the solution is becoming better and not just different?” If you don’t have multiple data points: publish your solution.