Biology of Business

Concept · Agile & Software Development

KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid)

Origin: Kelly Johnson / US Navy

By Alex Denne

Biological Parallel

Metabolic pathways evolve toward minimal viable complexity—glycolysis uses 10 enzymatic steps, not 100, because each additional step adds failure modes and energy costs. KISS enforces metabolic efficiency: systems with fewer components have fewer breakdown opportunities and lower maintenance overhead. The simplest solution that solves the problem is usually the most evolutionarily stable. Complexity is a liability, not an asset, unless each component pays for itself in fitness advantage.