Drunk Agile Episode 9 - Wilt Chamberlain
Jan 27, 2021
An exploration of Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game and his decision making. Discussion on irrational behavior despite having accurate data. Parallel drawn to a basketball player's decision to switch shooting style against evidence. The relationship between behavioral economics and agile methodologies explored. Pitfalls of mitigating risk through estimation and planning discussed.
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Episode notes
Good Data Doesn't Ensure Good Decisions
- Even when teams collect correct, objective data they often still make irrational decisions.
- Behavioral economics shows people ignore good data or interpret it poorly in practice.
Wilt's 100-Point Night And The Underhand Shot
- Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a 1962 game, partly by shooting free throws underhand that night.
- He later reverted to overhand because he felt the underhand shot made him look weak and lost that advantage.
WIP Limits Often Rise After Training
- In the 'get kanban' simulation most teams raise work-in-progress limits despite classroom evidence lowering WIP improves flow.
- About 95% of teams increased WIP the first chance they had, undoing the training.