Underengineering

Underengineering refers to the practice of intentionally designing a system, structure, or product with features and specifications that are less robust, complex, or durable than necessary for its intended purpose. This approach often aims to reduce costs, speed up production, or simplify processes, but it can lead to inadequate performance, increased maintenance, and decreased user satisfaction.

Underengineering meaning with examples

• The software developer faced criticism for underengineering the application, which quickly crashed under heavy user load due to insufficient server capacity and inadequate performance testing.
• During the construction project, the architect's choice to underengineer the support beams became apparent when the structure began to show signs of stress, prompting costly reinforcements.
• While focusing on rapid development, the team underengineered the security features of the mobile app, leaving it vulnerable to cyberattacks and data breaches.
• The company's decision to underengineer their new product in favor of a lean release led to numerous bugs and malfunctions, frustrating early adopters who expected a reliable experience.
• An example of underengineering can be seen in the restaurant's outdated kitchen equipment, which struggled to meet the demands of a growing customer base, impacting service speed and quality.