A Choice Apart: With Guests Max Bazerman & Vivienne Wagner

TL;DR

Evaluating options side by side, rather than one at a time, leads to more rational and informed decisions.

Transcript

all right so let's get to it so seeing as we're heading into next fiscal I figured it was a good idea to you know make a decision on promotion soon and we've got uh one team leader spot opening up I I don't know if you have any thoughts about that uh well you know I really like Alex he's got lots of good ideas uh he's always on time he's got a good... Read More

Key Insights

• 👻 Evaluating options side by side allows for a more comprehensive view and helps avoid biases and suboptimal decisions.
• ⚾ Joint evaluation can eliminate gender-based discrimination in hiring decisions.
• 👂 Listening to emotions may be suitable for decisions involving personal preferences and values, but a more rational approach is generally preferred.
• 🥺 Joint evaluation leads to fairer judgments and more ethical choices.
• ❓ Evaluating options separately increases the influence of emotions and instinctive preferences.
• 🤨 Comparing candidates for promotions and raises side by side helps highlight the most qualified and deserving individuals.
• 💭 Joint evaluation encourages more deliberate and rational thought processes.

Questions & Answers

Q: How can evaluating options side by side improve decision-making?

Comparing options allows for a more thorough assessment of their advantages, disadvantages, and suitability, leading to more informed and rational choices.

Q: What are the potential consequences of evaluating candidates one at a time for promotions, hiring, and raises?

By focusing on one candidate at a time, managers miss out on the opportunity to compare different candidates' qualifications, resulting in potentially biased or suboptimal decisions.

Q: How does joint evaluation impact ethical decision-making?

Joint evaluation encourages individuals to consider the ethical implications of their choices and make fairer judgments, as demonstrated in the elimination of gender-based discrimination in hiring decisions.

Q: Are there situations where making choices based on emotions and instincts is better?

In certain cases, listening to one's emotions may be appropriate, such as when considering personal preferences or values that are not easily quantifiable. However, for most decisions, a more reasoned and comparative approach is beneficial.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Evaluating candidates for promotion, hiring, and raises one at a time can limit the bigger picture view and potentially overlook better options.

• Vivien's experience with choosing a Dalmatian based on a movie led to unexpected challenges and expenses, highlighting the importance of comparing different options.

• Research shows that joint evaluation eliminates gender-based discrimination in hiring decisions and leads to more ethical and rational choices.