Heuristics and Checklists FAQs

Question 1

What is the difference between a heuristic and a checklist?

Accepted Answer

A heuristic is a mental shortcut or 'rule of thumb' for making decisions quickly under uncertainty, while a checklist is a structured list of steps used to ensure complex procedures are performed correctly without error.

Question 2

How does this skill help with software deployment?

Accepted Answer

It provides templates for pre-deployment checks (e.g., verifying migrations, tests, and rollbacks) to ensure no critical step is skipped, significantly reducing deployment failure rates.

Question 3

Can this skill help reduce cognitive bias?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it includes frameworks for recognizing common biases like anchoring or availability bias and provides external checks, such as checklists and base rates, to counteract them.

Question 4

What is 'Satisficing' in this context?

Accepted Answer

Satisficing is a decision-making strategy that seeks a 'good enough' solution rather than an optimal one. This skill helps identify when satisficing is more efficient than exhaustive analysis.

Question 5

When should I use a READ-DO vs. a DO-CONFIRM checklist?

Accepted Answer

Use READ-DO for unfamiliar procedures or novices to ensure every step is followed exactly. Use DO-CONFIRM for experts to verify that steps performed from memory were completed correctly.

Heuristics and Checklists

About

Key Features

Use Cases

Heuristics and Checklists

About

Key Features

Use Cases