Universal Principles of Design, Updated and Expanded Third Edition

081 Gates’ Rule of Automation

Automation applied to an operation will magnify both its efficiencies and deficiencies.

Bill Gates proposed two rules about the use of technology to automate business operations. The point of the rules is that automation is not a panacea and, in some cases, can make a bad business situation worse. Automation requires significant up-front investment and adds additional complexity to an operation. To be successful, it requires the presence of a sound strategy, well-designed business processes, and tasks that lend themselves to being automated.¹

1. Automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency of that operation.

   Gates’ first rule is generally true as written, though perhaps oversimple. The ...