Open Discussion Quote by Daniel Kahneman
““before an issue is discussed, all members of the committee should be asked to write a very brief summary of their position. This procedure makes good use of the value of the diversity of knowledge and opinion in the group. The standard practice of open discussion gives too much weight to the opinions of those who speak early and assertively, causing others to line up behind them.””
About This Quote
Source Article: “Improving Group Decision Making”, 2014
Suggests written summaries before discussion to capture diverse viewpoints and reduce early speaker bias.
In simple terms: Write brief positions before talking.
Key Takeaway
Use written prep to balance group input.
Themes
decision making
group dynamics
bias mitigation
Mood
analytical
pragmatic
Type
business
psychology
When to use this quote
- board meetings
- project teams
- policy committees
- academic panels
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
knowledge diversity
communication
Questions to Reflect On
- How can groups ensure quiet members are heard?
- What formats best capture diverse ideas?
A Different Perspective
Writing may not fully eliminate dominant personalities.
