Task Complexity Classifier
Enter three measurable factors to receive a deterministic Task Complexity Score with causal breakdown.
The Formula & How to Read Your Score
More steps and — especially — more decision points raise the Task Entropy Score (TES); automation offsets procedural branching. The score is classified against three fixed bands, matching the tool's source code:
- Simple (below 15): mostly linear; easy to execute mechanically.
- Moderate (15–39.9): branching is starting to demand judgment.
- Complex (40 or above): many unguided decisions; high variance and error risk between operators.
Honest labelling. Unlike the cognitive-load and attention pages, the Task Entropy Score is our own internal heuristic — it is not drawn from a specific peer-reviewed scale. We publish the exact formula so you can judge it for yourself, and we weight decision points heavily because branching, not step count, is where procedures tend to break down.
How it relates to established work
The idea that decision branching and ambiguity drive error is well supported in human-factors research. James Reason's work on human error distinguishes mistakes made at decision points from simple slips in execution, and the widely used NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) treats "mental demand" as a core, separately measured dimension of workload. Our score is a lightweight, transparent way to flag where a workflow carries that decision-heavy demand — a prompt to flatten decision trees or automate, not a substitute for a formal task analysis.
References
- Reason, J. (1990). Human Error. Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/CBO9781139062367
- Hart, S. G., & Staveland, L. E. (1988). Development of NASA-TLX: Results of empirical and theoretical research. Advances in Psychology, 52, 139–183. doi:10.1016/S0166-4115(08)62386-9
To see how to diagnose high-entropy procedures before they fail, read Diagnosing Workflow Collapse with TES.