Gall’s law, put forward by author and pediatrician John Gall in The Systems Bible, states that complex systems that work invariably evolve from simple systems. Attempting to build a complex system from scratch tends to be ineffective. It takes consistent, incremental progress from something basic that works. Although not foolproof, we can see examples of Gall’s law everywhere. A convoluted bureaucratic process in an organization probably began with something simple, a single form that served its purpose. Complex organisms like tigers and whales evolved from single-celled bacteria. Sprawling cities started off as small towns with a handful of inhabitants. Complex technologies like airplanes evolved from simpler ones like bicycles. Gall’s law explains we cannot always establish how a complex system works by looking at its parts. It also teaches us to avoid trying to design complex systems from scratch.
Understanding the irreducible components of a system means you won’t waste your time trying to change what is unchangeable. You can master the minimum elements, then explore. Using irreducibility as a lens helps you shed the nonessential, giving you options for adjusting or