Origins and History
The maxim “If it works, don’t improve it” is essentially a modern spin on the old adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” That classic phrase was popularized by U.S. budget director Bert Lance in 1977, who quipped that government’s problem was “Fixing things that aren’t broken and not fixing things that are broken” . Earlier references even trace a similar motto to a 1976 Texas newspaper quoting an old Georgia farmer. In short, the concept of leaving working systems alone goes back decades. The exact wording “If it works, don’t improve it” has no single inventor – it simply restates the same caution in a more formal tone. It captures a timeless engineering and business instinct: don’t tinker with a running machine unless there’s a clear benefit.
Real-World Applications
In practice, many organizations heed this principle as a rule of thumb. For example, on high-speed food-production lines companies resist overhauls when machines already run smoothly. An industry analysis notes that food and beverage manufacturers often have “state-of-the-art” equipment but will delay upgrades – “relying on current systems that seem to function ‘well enough’ ” . This shows the motto in action: avoid costly disruptions by keeping well-tuned equipment running. Designers and managers know that any change carries risk, so improvements are usually deferred until absolutely needed.
- Food Manufacturing: Many producers keep trusted machines and processes in place. As one review notes, food manufacturers are slow to embrace new tech and stick to existing systems that “seem to function ‘well enough’ ” . This pragmatic stance avoids downtime in critical, low-margin operations.
- Government & IT: Large agencies often maintain legacy systems instead of rewriting them. For instance, IT leaders warned against scrapping millions of lines of COBOL code at the U.S. Social Security Administration – after all, more than 60 million people were receiving their payments without a glitch. Experts advised them to consider the adage: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” rather than risk a costly, multi-year rewrite.
- Knowledge Management: Even Wikipedia’s editors use this mindset. Its editing guideline WP:BROKE tells contributors not to “waste time” fixing issues when nothing is really broken, unless it clearly improves the encyclopedia . In other words, only work on what truly needs it – a direct reflection of “if it works, don’t fix it.”
- Leadership & Culture: Some managers invoke the phrase to justify cautious policies. For example, a Silicon Valley project manager cites Colin Powell saying the motto is “the slogan of the complacent” – highlighting how it can encourage inertia. In practice, organizations balance this by constantly asking why a system works and whether it might be improved.
In highly regulated industries, process stability is paramount. For example, food and pharmaceutical companies follow strict Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) (see above) to ensure safety and consistency. Once a production method fully meets standards, companies avoid disruptive changes – echoing “if it works, don’t improve it” in order to prevent compliance failures. The drive is to preserve validated processes and only modify them when clear benefits outweigh the risks .
Likewise, in product design and branding, continuity often wins. Iconic products (like Kellogg’s Froot Loops cereal) keep their signature packaging and design for years (see above), because the familiar look works with customers. Marketers know that overly frequent redesigns can confuse or alienate loyal buyers. As one analyst warns, clinging to the same formula isn’t always bad – you risk “alienating your customers” by changing what they love. In short, companies often preserve a winning design “if it works” until there’s a compelling reason to change .
Counterarguments and Limitations
The wisdom of “if it works” has its flipside. Blindly sticking with status quo can stifle innovation. Critics warn that the motto can make people complacent or timid. For example, an Inc. columnist notes that overusing only what works can lead to “timidity” and missed opportunities . Even Colin Powell famously quipped that it’s “the slogan of the complacent” . In practice, this means businesses must guard against using the proverb as an excuse for inaction.
- Hidden Flaws: Engineering leaders caution that lack of visible problems doesn’t mean perfection. As NASA expert Henry Petroski observes, “Just because something ain’t broke doesn’t mean that it won’t break eventually” . He argues designers should anticipate when a design might fail and preemptively improve it before any breakdown, rather than waiting for disaster. In other words, a system “working fine” today might still harbor design flaws that need fixing.
- Falling Behind: In fast-changing fields, insisting only on “what works now” can lead to obsolescence. The classic examples are Blockbuster vs. Netflix or Encyclopædia Britannica vs. Wikipedia. When Netflix and email appeared, Blockbuster and snail-mail operators were caught off guard because they assumed their old methods would carry on . Analysts say creative destruction eventually hits all industries: using “if it ain’t broke” as a mantra can mean missing the next big thing.
- Continuous Improvement: Modern methodologies often invert the motto. Agile and Lean practices embrace continuous improvement (Kaizen) rather than waiting for failure . For instance, Scrum teams hold regular retrospectives to tweak even well-functioning processes. As one agilist notes, while “if it ain’t broke” saves effort in the short term, Kaizen encourages always looking for ways to be a little better . The balance is key: smart teams blend stability with selective innovation.
- Cost of Change: Finally, even positive changes carry cost and risk. So the maxim is a reminder to weigh improvements carefully. If a proposed upgrade is minor and cheap, it may be worth trying. But for big, expensive changes, the original system should be rock-solid. As a veteran CIO puts it, you need a “slap around the head” from IIABDFI (if it ain’t broke…) when new ideas seem uncertain .
Across Fields: Finding Balance
Across technology, software, business and design, the spirit of “if it works, don’t improve it” can be found in many guises. In engineering it celebrates reliability; in software it supports stable releases; in management it stresses efficiency and cost-control. Yet in every field its limitations serve as a motivational nudge toward progress. The real takeaway is balance: value the practical wisdom of not breaking a working solution, but remain open to change when there’s a real upside.
Inspiringly, the phrase can be seen as a call for thoughtful improvement: know when a system is sound and honor that stability, but also know when “working” simply masks future problems. Embrace the mantra as a guide, not an absolute rule. By combining pragmatic caution with creative vision, teams and leaders use this principle to stay grounded while still moving ahead. In short, cherish what works and only fix what truly needs fixing – a strategy that keeps organizations both steady and ever-improving .
Sources: The history and use of this saying have been documented in management and engineering writings . Each example above is drawn from real industry discussions and expert commentary . The images (above) illustrate typical stable designs and processes mentioned in these sources.