Software program growth groups have been on a journey during the last a number of years to enhance productiveness. Whether or not that’s by reducing down on the time spent coding by introducing AI-powered coding assistants or implementing collaboration instruments, it’s clear that groups are on a mission to be extra productive.
Nonetheless, that drive for productiveness may very well be making issues worse by introducing extra “grey work” into their processes. Maya Palfreyman, product advertising and marketing director at Quickbase, defines grey work as something that will get in the way in which of your day-to-day job, like chasing down data or individuals.
“It’s all of the little stuff that you simply would possibly suppose takes 5 or 10 minutes right here and there, however you understand as you have a look at the day or the week that all of it provides up and also you’ve spent a number of time doing what you would possibly take into account not so significant to the affect you’re attempting to drive in your job,” she stated on a latest episode of the SD Instances podcast.
Palfreyman leads the corporate’s analysis on grey work, and within the lately launched Quickbase Grey Work Index, it was found that 59% of the 2000+ respondents spend greater than 11 hours per week chasing down data from totally different instruments, a rise from 45% in 2024.
And it’s not simply time spent chasing down data in instruments that contributes to grey work; it’s additionally the time spent ready on data. “You’re sitting there wanting to maneuver on to the subsequent step, however it’s essential see the place the progress is, and also you’re ready on that individual to reply,” she stated.
The impact on particular person builders
This wasted time doesn’t simply result in delays, it could possibly additionally affect developer wellbeing as a result of it’s annoying realizing you’ve got work to do, however not really with the ability to do this work since you’re ready on data.
In accordance with Palfreyman, it could possibly result in not having fun with the work as a lot as you might need, doubtlessly resulting in burnout.
“And on the finish of the day, you’re simply not getting as a lot accomplished since you’re having to sort of undergo all these grey. Once I take into consideration grey work, that’s not what I’m measured on. I’m measured on the affect that I drive.”
Factoring grey work into planning
Whereas it could be nice to get rid of grey work solely, that’s not the world we stay in immediately. Due to this fact, managers ought to actually be factoring this into their planning cycle and the way it impacts deadlines and budgets.
If staff are spending hours of their day on grey work slightly than growth work, that’s going to result in delays.
“When you’re making commitments throughout planning, it is very important see, is there grey work that’s going to sluggish us down? Is there grey work that we are able to doubtlessly get rid of to assist meet our targets in a greater manner? I feel that it tends to catch a number of groups unexpectedly.”
Key takeaways from the Grey Work Index
That is the third 12 months that Quickbase performed analysis on grey work, and searching on the tendencies year-over-year, staff are literally getting much less productive and gear funding is growing.
“That’s the largest takeaway for me, as a result of one thing doesn’t add up,” stated Palfreyman. “The truth that these traces are transferring in numerous instructions is fairly fascinating to me.”
The researchers additionally discovered that there’s been constant themes round knowledge fragmentation and silos through the years. Organizations are fascinated with eliminating these challenges, however are primarily simply doing so by shopping for extra instruments to attempt to remedy the issue.
“These are exhausting conversations, and these are large tasks that have to be taken on when it comes to consolidating software program, fascinated by how issues join in the appropriate manner. However I’m hopeful. Annually I like doing this analysis to see what else we are able to study,” stated Palfreyman.