No. #84

Outcome Bias
- Judging Decisions by Results

Outcome bias involves judging a decision based on its outcome rather than how the decision was made in the moment. This can affect evaluations of product strategies or features, potentially penalizing good decision-making that led to unfavorable outcomes by chance.

Read more on Wikipedia

Product example

A well-researched feature that underperforms might be seen as a poor decision, ignoring the quality of the decision-making process.

Empathy tips

1

Focus on Process

Emphasize the importance of the decision-making process over outcomes in evaluations.

2

Educate on Bias

Educate teams on the nature of outcome bias and its impact on assessment.

3

Process Documentation

Encourage thorough documentation of decision-making processes.

4

Separate Outcome and Decision Evaluation

Create separate evaluations for outcomes and the decisions leading to them to ensure fair assessment.

Need an empathic partner?

Anna Lundqvist portrait
Anna Lundqvist
UX & AI ethics expert driving better products and smarter teams.
Eddy Salzmann portrait
Eddy Salzmann
Design lead crafting seamless products and mentoring design teams.
Ola Möller portrait
Ola Möller
Facilitator helping organisations see the big picture and take action.