Body Quote by C. Northcote Parkinson
“Deliberative bodies become decreasingly effective after they pass five to eight members.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Parkinson’s Law, 1958
Large groups become less efficient after a certain size, reducing effectiveness.
In simple terms: Too many members hinder efficiency.
Key Takeaway
Limit group size.
Themes
efficiency
group dynamics
leadership
Mood
analytical
practical
Type
business
organizational
When to use this quote
- corporate boards
- committees
Key Concepts
management
organizational theory
Questions to Reflect On
- What is the optimal team size?
- How to maintain effectiveness?
A Different Perspective
Small groups may lack diverse input.
![“I failed, I think, seven [or] eight times before I finally got my first [championship]. It was just, you know, just about me growing up. Now that I'm an old, old veteran-age 29-I do things a lot differently. I don't go to the gentlemen's clubs anymore. I had to slow that down.” quote by Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/08f/shaquille-o-neal-659_age_i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-be_2731.jpg)
![“I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests with ZERO-G [a charter-flight service in Arlington, Va., that uses modified Boeing 727s to simulate weightlessness], which went great.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa1/richard-branson-256_adventure_i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-repl_903.jpg)
