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Human error stems as much from 'noise'—the unwanted and costly variability in our professional judgments—as from bias, and this book reveals its hidden impact and provides a systematic 'decision hygiene' toolkit to reduce it.

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What it’s about

While the world is obsessed with fighting bias, Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman and his co-authors reveal an equally insidious and costly, yet largely invisible, flaw in human judgment: noise. From criminal sentencing and medical diagnoses to hiring decisions and financial forecasts, unwanted variability in judgments that should be identical leads to rampant unfairness, massive economic losses, and catastrophic errors. This book takes you on a deep dive into the nature of noise, distinguishing it from bias, dissecting its psychological origins, and demonstrating its shocking prevalence in both public and private sectors. More than just a diagnosis, "Noise" provides a practical toolkit of "decision hygiene" strategies—simple, preventive measures like structuring decisions, using guidelines, aggregating independent judgments, and taking an "outside view"—that any organization can implement to improve judgment, reduce error, and create a fairer, more consistent world.

The through-line

Who it’s for
A professional, manager, or leader responsible for making or improving important decisions in an organization, who wants to make better, more accurate, and fairer judgments to improve outcomes, reduce costs, and enhance credibility.
The problem
The organization's judgments and decisions are inconsistent, unfair, and often wrong, leading to costly mistakes, missed opportunities, and damaged credibility. They feel frustrated and uncertain about why their decisions and those of their team are so unreliable. They are dismayed by the inconsistency they witness and feel powerless to fix a problem they can't quite name or measure.
The plan
  1. Find the Noise: Learn to recognize and measure the hidden problem of noise in your organization by conducting a 'noise audit'.
  2. Understand Noise: Discover the psychological mechanisms and systemic factors that create unwanted variability in judgments.
  3. Implement Decision Hygiene: Adopt a toolkit of practical, preventive strategies to reduce noise, such as structuring decisions, using guidelines, and aggregating independent judgments.
The payoff
The reader leads an organization that makes more accurate, reliable, and fair decisions. · Costly errors are prevented, leading to significant financial savings and better overall outcomes. · The organization's credibility and reputation for fairness are enhanced.

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