I’m gearing up for my final post on the significance of Kahneman’s described biases in a Scrum Master’s life, as this idea didn’t receive much feedback.
Initially, I planned to keep the usual format exploring how biases intersect with communication across various roles. However, I soon realized that quoting Kahneman directly would be more effective, given the conclusive section in his book. So, here we go:
| đź“Ś “Animals, including people, fight harder to prevent losses than to achieve gains. In the world of territorial animals, this principle explains the success of defenders. A biologist observed that “when a territory holder is challenged by a rival, the owner almost always wins the contest—usually within a matter of seconds.” In human affairs, the same simple rule explains much of what happens when institutions attempt to reform themselves /…/. As initially conceived, plans for reform almost always produce many winners and some losers while achieving an overall improvement. If the affected parties have any political influence, however, potential losers will be more active and determined than potential winners; the outcome will be biased in their favor and inevitably more expensive and less effective than initially planned.“ |
✏️ The only additional point I’d like to make here is that being labeled a “loser” in this context also encompasses simply experiencing an unwelcome change in the existing order (which, let’s face it, can be any change, since we tend to get accustomed to how things are done). Keep this in mind as you navigate your daily journey, and remain steadfast and committed to your goals.