The Cost of Clarity: Why Most Systems Stay Confusing — On Purpose
Article summary
The Cost of Clarity: Why Most Systems Stay Confusing On Purpose We pretend software is confusing because it’s hard. But that’s not the whole story. Some systems are complex because the domain is complex. Some are messy because they grew too fast. But many far too many are confusing because someone benefits from the confusion. Clarity is expensive. And in most organizations, it’s threatening. Clarity Changes Power When a system becomes clear, something dangerous happens: it becomes possible to judge. Suddenly you can tell if the architecture makes sense. You can measure latency across boundaries. You can spot duplication. You can ask why that logic is duplicated in three services maintained by three different teams. This makes people uncomfortable. Not because they’re hiding. But because clarity invites scrutiny and scrutiny reopens decisions they thought were closed.
Read Full Article on MediumPractical takeaway
The main idea behind The Cost of Clarity: Why Most Systems Stay Confusing — On Purpose is to help teams move from broad theory to clear, repeatable decision making. When teams apply this thinking, they reduce ambiguity and focus on improvements that deliver measurable momentum.
Example scenario
Imagine a team facing competing priorities. By applying the ideas in The Cost of Clarity: Why Most Systems Stay Confusing — On Purpose, they can map dependencies, identify risks and choose the next move that produces progress without destabilizing their system.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Trying to redesign everything instead of taking small steps.
- Ignoring real constraints like incentives, ownership or legacy systems.
- Creating documents that do not lead to any change in code or decisions.
How to apply this in real work
Start by identifying where The Cost of Clarity: Why Most Systems Stay Confusing — On Purpose already shows up in your architecture or delivery flow. Then pick one area where clarity would reduce friction. Apply the idea, measure its effect and share the learning.
Signs you are doing it correctly
- Teams make decisions faster and with fewer disagreements.
- Architectural conversations become clearer and less abstract.
- Changes land safely with fewer surprises or rework cycles.