Productivity & time laws · law 089
Parkinson's Law of Triviality (Bikeshedding)
Also known as: Bikeshedding · Bike-shed effect
By Shivam Bhandari · Reviewed 31 October 2026 · How we write
what it means
Groups spend disproportionate time on trivial issues and too little on complex, important ones.
How Parkinson's Law of Triviality works
Everyone understands simple topics, so everyone has an opinion. Complex topics feel intimidating, so discussion is brief. The result is long debates about logos and short approvals of big budgets.
Good meetings fight this by putting important topics first and limiting time for trivia.
where it comes from
C. Northcote Parkinson described it in 1957: a committee approves a nuclear reactor in minutes but debates a staff bike shed at length. Software developer Poul-Henning Kamp popularised ‘bikeshedding’ in 1999.
Parkinson's Law of Triviality examples in business
Meetings
A team spends 40 minutes on the office party menu and five on next year's budget.
Branding
Founders debate logo colours for weeks while pricing goes unexamined.
Approvals
Small expenses get heavy scrutiny while large contracts are approved quickly.
How to apply it
- 1Put the most important agenda items first.
- 2Set time limits per item based on importance.
- 3Delegate trivial decisions to one person.
- 4Prepare simple summaries for complex topics so people can engage.
common misreading
Small details aren't worthless — they just shouldn't crowd out big decisions.
ask yourself
What did your last team meeting spend the most time on — and was it the most important topic?
Frequently asked questions
What is Parkinson's Law of Triviality?
Groups spend disproportionate time on trivial issues and too little on complex, important ones. Everyone understands simple topics, so everyone has an opinion. Complex topics feel intimidating, so discussion is brief. The result is long debates about logos and short approvals of big budgets.
Who came up with Parkinson's Law of Triviality?
C. Northcote Parkinson described it in 1957: a committee approves a nuclear reactor in minutes but debates a staff bike shed at length. Software developer Poul-Henning Kamp popularised ‘bikeshedding’ in 1999.
How do you apply Parkinson's Law of Triviality in business?
1. Put the most important agenda items first. 2. Set time limits per item based on importance. 3. Delegate trivial decisions to one person. 4. Prepare simple summaries for complex topics so people can engage.
What is a common misunderstanding of Parkinson's Law of Triviality?
Small details aren't worthless — they just shouldn't crowd out big decisions.