Process drift

The gradual, often unconscious shift in a work process, system, or organizational behavior away from its original purpose—usually due to routine, habit, or the illusion of progress. Common in corporate, bureaucratic, or tech settings where the system just keeps running… because that’s what it does.

“Why are we still sending daily update emails no one reads?”
“No clue. Classic case of process drift

by Richard A April 25, 2025

Trust The Process

Basically carrying out a long term task or goal to end with a nice outcome, even if there are hiccups or mistakes made before that good outcome.

P1: I’m in the process of making and art piece, but right now it looks like shit

P2: Just Trust The Process. It’ll turn out better later.

by picckledissection November 28, 2019

sham process

Any process that is in actually a non-process, something that is in fact such specifically in order to prevent the truth from coming out.

The confirmation hearing for Brett Kavanaugh was a sham process since there is wide consensus that damaging and provable evidence was actively suppressed.

by Dr Bunnygirl September 16, 2019

trust the process

Trusting the process involves supporting a team who is tanking on purpose in order to hoard draft picks as well as assets. Trust the process, also abbreviated as TTP, is somewhat cult-like at times.

Sixers fans TTP by rooting for their team despite three continuous years of less than 20 wins.
Other NBA teams claim to trust the process, but only Sixers fans really get it.

by InHinkieWeTrust July 25, 2016

The Process

Term describing the current state of the Philadelphia 76ers organization. Tanking to acquire assets to eventually rise from the douldroms of the NBA. Also the nickname for Philadelphia center Joel Embiid.

"Trust The Process!"

"When we win the 2020 NBA Finals, you'll thank The Process!"

"Sam Hinkie sacrificed himself for The Process."

by Cheesesteakaholic March 25, 2017

The Bayer Process

The process of refining Bauxite into Alumina.

Did you know that most aluminum is made using The Bayer Process?

by Jonathan1776 March 15, 2021

Kidney Stone Software Development Process

The "Kidney Stone Software Development Process" is a degenerate process where releasing software to the field is incredibly painful but eventually "passes" and reaches customers. Developers within the process find that once the code portion of the project is complete, there are so many gates held by so many other internal groups that the software must first pass through, including peer review, quality assurance, documentation, not to mention possible conflicting schedules of other teams, product owners and managers, that the customers may not see the finished product for a long time. The process is akin to passing the proverbial kidney stone - incredibly painful, but eventually, it passes through.

We use the Kidney Stone Software Development Process at work; I'm still shepherding the finished code through multiple painful gates - who knows when this will actually ship.

by Spokko April 10, 2019