This study was conducted in 30 mid-sized dairy farms in Segala (France) to analyze various options for simplified herd management aimed at reducing farmers' workloads. We studied six options, related to milking (temporary closing milk parlors, canceling Sunday night milking, single daily milking) and feeding (maximum pasture land, self-service, total mixed rations with delegated distribution). The interview asked about the reasons for and conditions of combining these options, their effect on farmers' work, and on the management characteristics of the farm using them. A multiple component analysis (MCA) assessed these data to determine the variables that affected management decisions. This analysis identified 4 axes on which management decisions were based: indicators related to the animals taken individually versus the collective herd and those aimed at maximizing milking potential versus resource use. This study underlines the variability of the meaning of "simplification" relative to the work characteristics (reduce work time, flexibility, impact on work every day or during special periods). It also shows that some options determine a logic or style of management (such as the sequence of decisions about reproduction, feeding, on through reforms), while others can be implemented in various systems.