https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Chesterton%27s_fence
Chesterton’s fence is the principle that reforms should not be made until the reasoning behind the existing state of affairs is understood. The quotation is from G. K. Chesterton’s 1929 book The Thing, in the chapter entitled “The Drift from Domesticity”:
In the matter of reforming things, as distinct from deforming them, there is one plain and simple principle; a principle which will probably be called a paradox. There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, “I don’t see the use of this; let us clear it away.” To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: “If you don’t see the use of it, I certainly won’t let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it.[1]
History is full of examples of negative outcomes that resulted from the failure to understand this admonition.
Ive never heard of Chesterton’s fence. But understand the principal implicitly. It under a personal Axiom “things have a reason”and “what are you trying to accomplish”
In any groupe there will be policies and procedures that you don’t understand or people have forgotten why they’re doing it.
but you cannot remove it willy-nilly
Examine the policy and see what it was put in place for what was it trying to accomplish what was its reason
Once you understand what its intent was then you can make modifications.or not if needed
it’s like disassembling and putting back together a car you don’t leave out of parts of because you don’t understand exactly what the part does... what was its reasons what was it there to accomplish?
you have to understand what it does so you can properly put it back together when you repairing it