Duplicative

Duplicative describes something that involves repetition or redundancy; it often refers to elements that are unnecessarily copied, reproduced, or multiplied. The term suggests that the repeated components add little or no value and are potentially wasteful or confusing. It can apply to processes, documents, systems, and even patterns of behavior. The key characteristic is an undesirable excess of something already present. The extent of the problem can range from a slight inefficiency to a significant impediment, depending on the context. Consider the use of duplicative procedures within an organization - these can lead to delays, errors and increased costs. Identifying and eliminating duplicative efforts is a common goal in process improvement.

Duplicative meaning with examples

• The company's current reporting system was criticized for its duplicative nature. Multiple departments submitted essentially the same information, leading to wasted time and resources. The CEO initiated a project to streamline the data flow, aiming to consolidate reporting and eliminate the redundant processes that were hindering efficiency. This effort proved to be a key factor in improving the overall effectiveness.
• During the software development phase, the project manager realized that the current design plan contained duplicative code segments, resulting in an unwieldy program with unnecessary size. The team worked hard to refactor the code, optimizing for efficiency. They removed the redundant functions, reducing file size and improving the overall performance of the software, resulting in easier maintainability.
• The government's bureaucratic structure was often cited for its duplicative nature. Various agencies handled overlapping responsibilities, leading to confusion and potentially duplicated services. A legislative initiative proposed simplifying the administrative structure and merging certain agencies to reduce waste and improve the citizen's experience. The proposed restructuring aimed to improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability.
• In academic research, some students submitted duplicative research proposals. Their work copied the same experiments, methodologies, and resources. Reviewers had a strict policy to reject work of this nature, and encouraged all the students to develop fresh ideas and unique arguments to stimulate innovation, and prevent any form of plagiarism. They were encouraged to propose novel contributions to the field.
• The old filing system was found to be filled with duplicative documents. Multiple copies of invoices, letters, and reports were stored across different folders. The office team embarked on a document management project to digitize the files and eliminate the excess copies. The migration of hard copies to the electronic domain was a key step in the process, reducing storage costs and improving information accessibility.