Optimization Trap

Efficiency kills creativity. When everything is optimized, there is no room for serendipity, experiments, or mistakes. This book argues that peak efficiency is a trap that suffocates innovation and makes organizations fragile.



Just-in-time supply chains save money—until a pandemic destroys them. Maximum utilization increases output—until one employee quits and everything stops. The problem with optimization is that it eliminates buffers. Buffers look like waste, but they are resilience.



We examine the value of slack. Why Google gives employees 20% time for side projects. Why the best ideas emerge in unplanned moments. Why tightly scheduled days are unproductive. Stop optimizing every minute. Leave room for chaos. Innovation needs air to breathe.