The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 2003):
Mongolian Hordes technique
n.
[poss. from the Sixties counterculture expression Mongolian clusterfuck for
a public orgy] Development by gang bang. Implies that large numbers of
inexperienced programmers are being put on a job better performed by a few
skilled ones (but see bazaar). Also called Chinese Army technique; see
also Brooks's Law.
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):
Mongolian Hordes technique
Chinese Army technique
(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)