The Two Systems of Thinking
In project management, the decision-making process can be influenced by many things e.g. the cognitive biases of the people involved in the project. The Israeli-American psychologist, economist and 2002 Nobel Prize winner, Daniel Kahneman introduced the two systems of thinking in his book, „Thinking Fast and Slow“. He argues that every single decision a human being makes is made by one of two systems in the brain. He calls them System 1 and System 2. The systems have their own abilities, limitations, and functions. System 1 thinking is automatic, intuitive, and quick while System 2 thinking is intentional, analytical, and slow,
System 1 thinking can for example result in biases like the availability bias, where people prefer to overestimate the likelihood of occurrences that are easily recalled, and the confirmation bias, where people seek for information that confirms their already ideas. System 2 thinking can help people overcome these biases by analyzing data more thoroughly and making decisions based on a comprehensive understanding of the project's goals, risks, and opportunities.
Project managers should actively seek out varied perspectives and data sources and participate in purposeful thought to reduce the biases brought on to them by System 1 thinking. They should also create decision-making processes that encourage critical thinking and exploration of alternative options.
By being aware of the two systems of thought and the biases they imply, project managers can make better judgments and acheive projects more successfully. By adopting a deliberate thinking approach and implementing decision-making processes that encourage critical thinking, project managers can mitigate the biases associated with System 1 thinking and create a more effective project management process.
This article will focus on how the the two systems of thinking and biases relate to project management and the internal interaction between the systems.
Table of contents
System 1 and System 2 Further discussion about the systems and their internal interaction
Biases Introduction to the biases we may have to deal with under decision making and how the two systems relate to it
The Two Systems in Project Management How the two systems relate to project management.
References
[1] Kahneman, Daniel. "Thinking, Fast and Slow". Penguin Books, 2011.
[2] https://fs.blog/daniel-kahneman-the-two-systems/. (Using references from the internet is not okay? I will change this later if that is the case)
