The Role of Evidence and Science in Decision-Making

Many companies tend to rely on the Highest Paid Person's Opinion (HIPPO) to make decisions, often disregarding evidence that contradicts the leader's intuition and experience. This tendency contrasts with the fundamental principle of science, as emphasized by Richard Feynman, which dictates that regardless of one's status or expertise, if a guess doesn't align with evidence, it is considered wrong. Science serves as a powerful corrective to human overconfidence by allowing the group to assess and refine ideas, providing an effective means of stress testing and challenging individual biases.