A manager went to the master programmer and showed him the requirements document for a new application. The manager asked the master: ``How long will it take to design this system if I assign five programmers to it?'' ``It will take one year,'' said the master promptly. ``But we need this system immediately or even sooner! How long will it take if I assign ten programmers to it?'' The master programmer frowned. ``In that case, it will take two years.'' ``And what if I assign a hundred programmers to it?'' The master programmer shrugged. ``Then the design will never be completed,'' he said.