Remember that silly rhyme from childhood about eating peas with honey to keep them on the knife? It’s a bit of nonsense that, when you think about it, offers a surprisingly sharp lesson for us in the IT world. The logic of the rhyme is flawed: instead of finding a better way to eat peas, it suggests a sticky, temporary fix—honey—to make a lousy solution slightly more tolerable.

In the world of IT, I like to call these kinds of flawed solutions “Honey Projects.” They’re those initiatives where, instead of addressing the root of a problem, we apply a patch—a sticky, temporary fix—that only makes the original issue more bearable. Let’s explore some examples and why these projects often lead to more trouble than they’re worth.

When a Centralized System Goes Sour

Imagine you’re tasked with creating a unified customer service system that allows reps to access data from multiple business divisions. Sounds like a great idea, right? But what if the project team decides the only way to achieve this is by creating a massive central database that copies data from across the globe daily? This is a classic Honey Project.

Rather than finding a smart, layered solution that connects systems in real-time, the team pours resources into a clunky, centralized approach that’s doomed from the start. The project eventually collapses under its own weight—thanks to the complexities of data translation, the politics of cross-organizational data sharing, and the realization that the data won’t be up-to-date anyway.

A better approach? Start small. Build a common interface and integrate a few divisions at a time. This not only helps manage the technical challenges but also builds support across the organization. It’s about understanding the problem fully before jumping to a solution—something that could have saved this project from becoming a sticky mess.

The Pitfalls of Inappropriate Acquisitions

Let’s talk about another example: corporate acquisitions. In the tech world, companies often acquire smaller firms with the hope of integrating their products into the corporate ecosystem. But what happens when those smaller firms aren’t a good fit? You guessed it—another Honey Project.

I’ve seen tech corporations buy out small companies, thinking they’ve found a perfect match, only to discover that integrating the new products is more trouble than it’s worth. Instead of developing a similar product internally—perhaps at a lower cost—they throw money at “integration” efforts that rarely pay off. Eventually, the acquired products are abandoned, leaving nothing but wasted resources in their wake.

The key lesson here is due diligence. When you ask the right questions and don’t like the answers, don’t ignore them. It’s better to walk away from a bad deal than to waste time and money trying to make it work. Remember, you can’t sweeten a bad investment with Honey Projects.

The Sticky Situation with Microsoft’s Virus Protection

Microsoft has had a long-standing issue with virus susceptibility in its Windows operating system. Instead of fixing the underlying vulnerabilities, the company introduced its own antivirus solution, Windows OneCare Live—a classic Honey Project if there ever was one.

This approach doesn’t solve the core problem. Instead, it adds another layer—one that makes the original issue slightly more bearable but doesn’t address the deep-seated vulnerabilities embedded in the Windows architecture. As a result, users are left dealing with the same issues, just with a bit of extra “honey” on top.

The lesson here? Sometimes, the problem is so deeply ingrained that fixing it seems impossible. But that doesn’t mean you should default to a Honey Project. Instead, consider whether the resources spent on temporary fixes might be better used in finding a long-term solution—or even rethinking the entire approach.

Are You Stuck in a Honey Project?

So, how many of your current projects are Honey Projects? Are you spending time and resources on temporary fixes rather than addressing the root cause? It’s easy to fall into the trap of making bad solutions more palatable, but this approach rarely leads to long-term success.

Take a step back and critically assess your projects. Ask yourself whether you’re truly solving the problem or just covering it up with a layer of “honey.” If it’s the latter, it might be time to rethink your approach.

The Takeaway: Make Better Decisions, Avoid Honey Projects

In IT, Honey Projects are all too common. But with the right mindset, you can avoid falling into this trap. The key is to make informed decisions from the start—fully understanding the problem before jumping to a solution. And if you do find yourself stuck in a Honey Project, don’t be afraid to pivot. It’s better to make the right decision the second time around than to waste more resources on a sticky, short-term fix.

Remember, the goal is to find solutions that truly solve the problem—not just make it easier to tolerate. So next time you’re faced with a project, ask yourself: Am I eating my peas with honey, or is there a better way?