Agile Decision Heuristics & Mental Models

Agile teams rely on decision shortcuts, cognitive patterns, and mental models to navigate complexity, reduce cognitive load, and maintain momentum. These laws help teams choose wisely when time is limited, uncertainty is high, and options are abundant. By internalizing these principles, teams improve prioritization, planning, and leadership with greater clarity and speed.

Hick's Law

Decision time increases with the number of choices.

Simon's Satisficing Principle

Decisions are made by settling for "good enough" rather than optimal solutions.

Goodhart's Law

"When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure."

Sayre's Law

In any dispute, the intensity of feeling is inversely proportional to the value of the stakes at issue.

Dude's Law

Value = Why / How