#88: Perceptual errors at work - part 7

Here are two more perceptual errors, namely framing and anchoring.

When we judge people or events, we are often influenced by the way information is presented. This is known as framing. For example, if we are told that a project has a 40% chance of success, we tend to view it more favorably than if we were told initially that the project has a 60% chance of failure.

If we are told that a project is likely to take three weeks, we are likely to negotiate for more time. This means that we have accepted the three weeks as a reference point. We have ‘anchored’ our thinking around the three weeks, instead of discussing how much time is realistically needed to do the job properly. We have allowed the starting value to unduly influence our judgment.

The point is this: don’t let your judgment be influenced by information which, rationally, should not have any effect.


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Copyright: 2007 James Henry McIntosh

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