Kompliskoituminen

Kompliskoituminen is a term used in Finnish discussions to describe the process by which a task, system, or organization becomes increasingly complex as additional rules, processes, and interdependencies accumulate. It is often cited in analyses of how procedures and technologies can drift into more elaborate forms than originally intended, complicating implementation and evaluation.

The term is a neologism in Finnish. It appears to derive from the verb komplisoida (to complicate) and the noun-forming suffix -minen, with the colloquial spelling kompliskoituminen attesting to its flexible usage.

Usage: It is used chiefly in analyses of bureaucratic, organizational, or technical contexts to indicate a trend toward unwarranted complexity that can obscure goals and hinder execution.

Causes and mechanisms: incremental policy additions, protocol layering, software patchwork, cross-functional dependencies, and misaligned incentives. Effects: longer decision cycles, higher costs, reduced transparency, and lower adaptability.

Contexts and examples: in municipal administration, large IT projects, and regulatory frameworks. Related terms include complexity, scope creep, feature creep, bureaucratic creep, and overengineering.