Most organizations default to using a hyperactive hive mind–style protocol for most coordination activities, because it’s simple to set up and persuade people to follow. Its flexibility also often allows organizations to avoid worst-case scenarios. Shannon teaches us, however, that if you’re willing to put in the hard work up front to develop smarter protocols for these tasks, you can often drastically reduce their long-term cost. The hard work you invest in advance to deploy the optimized protocol will pay off many times over in the lower cost you experience as you subsequently use it.
