The Ringelmann Effect
Why people work less hard in groups than they do individually. The tragedy of Social Loafing.
"1 + 1 < 2"
The Ringelmann Effect is the tendency for individual members of a group to become increasingly less productive as the size of their group increases. It was discovered by French agricultural engineer Max Ringelmann in 1913. He asked people to pull on a rope, first alone, and then in groups.
The Findings
- Alone: 100% effort.
- Group of 3: 85% effort per person.
- Group of 8: 49% effort per person. As the group grew, the total force increased, but the individual force dropped dramatically.
Why It Happens (Social Loafing)
- Loss of Motivation: "Someone else will do it." When credit and blame are shared, the incentive to excel vanishes.
- Loss of Coordination: It's harder to pull a rope (or write code, or move a sofa) in perfect sync with 8 people than with 2.
Application: The Bezos "Two-Pizza Rule"
Jeff Bezos at Amazon famously implemented the Two-Pizza Rule:
"If a team can't be fed with two pizzas, it's too big."
Small teams (5-7 people) prevent the Ringelmann Effect because:
- Everyone is visible (no place to hide).
- Coordination costs are low.
- Individual contribution is clear.
Conclusion
Adding more people to a late project makes it later (Brooks's Law). To maximize output, don't just add bodies. Break large teams into small, autonomous squads where individual impact is undeniable.