Definition: second system syndrome

The failure of a second system coined in "The Mythical Man Month" by Fred Brooks. It refers to a condition that occurs after a first system has been implemented. When it seems to be working well, designers turn their attention to a more elaborate second system, which is often bloated and grandiose and fails due to its over-ambitious design. In the meantime, the first system may also fail because it was abandoned and not continually refined.