Brooks’s Law and the Illusion of Solving Everything by Adding More People

In this episode, Ricardo presents Brooks' Law, created over 50 years ago and still very relevant. The law states that adding people to a software project that is behind schedule tends to delay it even further. This is because new members need to be trained and mentored by more experienced members, reducing team productivity. Furthermore, increasing the number of people makes communication, coordination, and integration of deliverables more complex. Ricardo emphasizes that this concept remains valid in the age of artificial intelligence, as adding more tools, agents, or automations does not solve problems of priorities, processes, or governance. Often, the solution lies in removing obstacles, simplifying decisions, and improving work coordination. Listen to the podcast to learn more about!