Important decision Quote by Frederick P. Brooks Jr
““Third, enumerating the frequencies explicitly helps everyone recognize which decisions depend upon which user set properties. Even this sort of informal sensitivity analysis is valuable. When it develops that very important decisions are hinging on some particular guess, then it is worth the cost to establish better estimates for that value.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Mythical Man‑Month by Frederick P. Brooks Jr, 1975
Explicitly listing how outcomes depend on uncertain inputs highlights key decisions, prompting effort to improve estimates where they matter most.
In simple terms: List dependencies to see which decisions need better data.
Key Takeaway
Identify critical assumptions and refine them.
Themes
risk management
decision making
analysis
uncertainty
Mood
analytical
pragmatic
Type
technical
strategic
When to use this quote
- project planning
- software development
- policy design
Key Concepts
systems thinking
probability
sensitivity analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- Which assumptions in your project are most fragile?
- When is it worth investing in better data?
A Different Perspective
May be costly or impractical to refine every estimate.
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