Our reality is created from a unique lens of our experiences. This lens shapes our perspectives, guiding how we process information and make choices. These decisions are not purely objective; they are often influenced by the biases ingrained in us over time.
Biases are shortcuts that our brain uses to analyze information quickly. While experience, teamwork, investment, action, and technology are crucial in building products, biases can influence each of these areas in ways we do not expect.?
- When building a product, it is tempting to build everything from scratch. After all, when we create it, don't we have total control? In the process, we ignore the complexity that would arise as the product evolves and how much effort it would take to maintain it if every feature and function is built from the ground up. What can you rather leverage instead of build? Sometimes, using existing or open source solutions can save time, resources, and help launch quickly.
- As you explore existing solutions, the temptation to adopt the latest technology is ever-present. Cutting-edge tools and platforms often appear to be the best choice due to their novelty and perceived superiority. However, just because something is new doesn’t mean it’s the best fit for your needs. Identify when you are being swayed by the hype. Choose what would suit you best, not what is trending.
- Once we have created a balance of what we can leverage and what we can build, our experiences begin to play a significant role. These experiences form the basis of prior data that can lead us to selectively choose and confirm what we already believe. This confirmation bias can cause us to stick to familiar solutions, even when new data suggests that a different approach might be better. Challenge your assumptions and remain open to alternative methods.
- Now that a direction has been chosen, teamwork becomes crucial. However, within a team, the desire for harmony can lead to groupthink, where everyone agrees on a decision collectively just to avoid conflict. This can stop creativity and lead to decisions that deflect the best possible course of action. Make space for alternative ideas to ensure that all possibilities are considered.
- From inception to creation, there is a tendency for the team to get invested and attached to what they create. In the process, they tend to ignore what doesn’t fit their world-view and any opinions that do not match (blaming the customers, saying the market is not ready, etc.), leading to a skewed understanding of what is actually happening. Understand that it is all for the development of the product, not for an individual’s ego. It is not personal, just business.
- As the product development progresses, there may come a time when spending time and effort on the product is only driven by the resources already invested rather than by the actual objectives. The more you invest, the greater the sunk costs are and the greater the need to continue becomes. Reassess regularly, focusing on current needs and KPIs rather than past commitments. Fail fast and learn the lessons
- Finally, as the product development reaches a significant milestone, it is natural to evaluate the success based on the outcome. However, it is important to remember that a good outcome doesn’t always mean a good decision-making process was followed. The true measure of success lies in the quality of the process itself, not just the result. Focus on the process itself rather than the successful/failed outcome.
Biases are an inherent part of human nature. They exist, and if you look around, you’ll see them at work. Awareness is key. It is in acknowledging, understanding, and working with biases that we stop letting them control our decisions.
