Isn't it mind-boggling how many poor decisions are made in corporations? IIs there a pattern: bad decisions made by execs, their negative impacts brushed under the rug, and when things go south, some poor scapegoat gets the blame while the decision-maker walks away with a promotion?
This brings me to a point about an informal rule that seems to dominate many meetings: decisions are often made by the least informed person, typically the most senior or the loudest. It's like the Dunning-Kruger effect in action, where decision-makers overestimate their abilities. But it's not just corporations; many politicians seem to exhibit this too.
What grinds my gears is when there's a mistake, the immediate response is often finding someone to blame rather than addressing the root of the issue. This approach doesn't benefit the company in the long run. Over time, these poor decisions pile up and can lead to the company's downfall. And the worst part? The folks making these bad decisions often end up pretty well-off, while those impacted by them lose their jobs.
Now, here's a thought: what if we could use AI to improve this process? Imagine if, when a mistake occurs, we immediately analyze what happened, why it happened, and how we can prevent it. Often, the person who made the mistake learns the most from it, but our current 'blame game' approach doesn't take that into account.
AI could potentially rank the people involved in a major decision, predict the likelihood of success based on the qualifications and past decisions of the decision-maker. If the result looks grim, the decision could be put on hold pending a review by someone more qualified. It might help prevent bad outcomes and could even push those who value status over success to step up their game or find other places to work.
I think decisions should be made by those most qualified to make them. With the help of AI and the right policy changes, we could possibly create more resilient companies that could last centuries. But it would require a shift from our blame-first policies to an emphasis on ensuring the quality of decisions rather than protecting or punishing decision-makers — or their scapegoat proxies.
Curious to hear your thoughts on this. How can we effectively leverage AI to improve decision-making in corporations? And how can we shift from a culture of blame to a culture of learning and improvement?