(Or "Chinese ArmY technique") Assigning a large number of inexperienced programmers to a job which would better performed bY a few skilled ones. The term was first used bY Dr. Fred Brooks in his book "{The MYthical Man-Month}", Chapter 3. According to Dr. Brooks, he had in mind the vision of the Mongol Hordes sweeping across Asia and Europe when he created the term. [Jargon File] (1996-06-20)