Incomplete by Design and Designing for Incompleteness

Incomplete by Design and Designing for Incompleteness

Garud, Jain and Tuertscher. 2008. (View Paper → )

The relevant parts of the abstract can be copied here in italics...

Abstract. The traditional scientific approach to design extols the virtues of completeness. However, in environments characterized by continual change, there are challenges in adopting such an approach. We examine Linux and Wikipedia as two exemplary cases to explore the nature of design in such a protean world. Our observations highlight a pragmatic approach to design in which incompleteness is harnessed in a generative manner. This suggests a change in the meaning of the word "design" itself – from one that separates the process of design from its outcome, to one that considers design as both the medium and outcome of action

This paper challenges the traditional "scientific" approach to design (when you fully specify problems upfront and choose optimal solutions) arguing it breaks down in rapidly changing environments. Instead, the authors propose embracing "incompleteness" as a generative force that drives innovation.

Design should be both process and outcome simultaneously. Rather than separating the design phase from the final product, each outcome becomes the starting point for new design processes. Think of it as "dynamic jigsaw puzzles where pieces and templates change as actors engage."

For software development, this means strategically embracing incompleteness rather than trying to achieve full specification upfront. When teams and users encounter gaps or limitations, they don't just fill them… they discover entirely new possibilities. The most successful examples, like Linux and Wikipedia, succeed because users become co-designers who continuously evolve the product through actual use.

The fundamental takeaway is that in fast-moving software environments, trying to achieve "completeness" upfront often forecloses future options. Strategic incompleteness creates spaces for innovation and adaptation that emerge organically through participation and real-world usage.