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 slicing 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.
Nevertheless, that drive for productiveness may very well be making issues worse by introducing extra “grey work” into their processes. Maya Palfreyman, product advertising director at Quickbase, defines grey work as something that will get in the best way of your day-to-day job, like chasing down data or individuals.
“It’s all of the little stuff that you just would possibly assume takes 5 or 10 minutes right here and there, however you notice as you take 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 think about not so significant to the impression you’re making an attempt to drive in your job,” she mentioned on a current episode of the SD Instances podcast.
Palfreyman leads the corporate’s analysis on grey work, and within the just 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 you have to see the place the progress is, and also you’re ready on that individual to reply,” she mentioned.
The impact on particular person builders
This wasted time doesn’t simply result in delays, it will probably additionally impression developer wellbeing as a result of it’s annoying figuring out you’ve got work to do, however not truly with the ability to do this work since you’re ready on data.
In accordance with Palfreyman, it will probably result in not having fun with the work as a lot as you might need, probably resulting in burnout.
“And on the finish of the day, you’re simply not getting as a lot finished since you’re having to type of undergo all these grey. After I take into consideration grey work, that’s not what I’m measured on. I’m measured on the impression that I drive.”
Factoring grey work into planning
Whereas it will be nice to get rid of grey work solely, that’s not the world we dwell in at present. Due to this fact, managers ought to actually be factoring this into their planning cycle and the way it impacts deadlines and budgets.
If employees are spending hours of their day on grey work moderately than growth work, that’s going to result in delays.
“If you find yourself making commitments throughout planning, it is very important see, is there grey work that’s going to gradual us down? Is there grey work that we are able to probably get rid of to assist meet our targets in a greater means? I feel that it tends to catch a number of groups abruptly.”
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, employees are literally getting much less productive and gear funding is rising.
“That’s the largest takeaway for me, as a result of one thing doesn’t add up,” mentioned Palfreyman. “The truth that these traces are shifting in several instructions is fairly attention-grabbing to me.”
The researchers additionally discovered that there’s been constant themes round knowledge fragmentation and silos over time. Organizations are fascinated by eliminating these challenges, however are primarily simply doing so by shopping for extra instruments to attempt to clear up the issue.
“These are exhausting conversations, and these are huge initiatives that should be taken on by way of consolidating software program, serious about how issues join in the precise means. However I’m hopeful. Every year I like doing this analysis to see what else we are able to be taught,” mentioned Palfreyman.
