Decision-Making Warning Flag 1d – Distinction Without a Difference

“What is six to one is a half dozen to another.”

Author Unknown

While two or more things may be truly the same, people may attempt to characterize them as being different; drawing attention to characteristics or features that are either exactly or materially the same. These individuals seek to draw a distinction between the subject items where no difference exists.[wcm_restrict plans=”49475, 25542, 25653″]

Asserting that a distinction exists without a true difference places the decision maker and his/her organization at risk. These mischaracterizations of factual conditions distort the foundation upon which conclusions are draw and actions taken. As such, this logic error must be avoided. While not all inclusive, the four lists below, Process-Based Warning Flags, Process Execution Warning Flags – Behaviors, Potential, Observable Results, and Potential Causes, provide insight to instances where decision makers make distinctions without a difference; unduly enhancing or diminishing a particular conclusion. Only after a problem is recognized and its causes identified can the needed actions be taken to move the organization toward improved performance.

Process-Based Warning Flags

• Decision making process does not require outcome quantification prior to option development (see StrategyDriven Decision-Making Best Practice article, Identify the Target)
• Decision making process does not include rigorous fact documentation and characterization tools and/or methods
• Decision making process does not include a Devil’s Advocate to challenge group think and logic errors (see StrategyDriven Strategic Analysis Best Practice article, advocatus diaboli, The Devil’s Advocate)

Process Execution Warning Flags – Behaviors

• Decision makers draw conclusions and then seek support for those conclusions
• Decision makers obsessively focus on immaterial factual quantities or qualities
• Decision makers narrowly focus on minute factual details
• Decision makers quickly dismiss opposing or challenging opinions

Potential, Observable Results

• Unnecessary or prolonged conflict between individuals
• Decision failure resulting in sub-optimal results, missed opportunities, significant expense, equipment damage, and personnel injury

Potential Causes

• Decision maker bias for or against the compared item
• Decision maker is generally an optimist or pessimist
• Decision maker inflated/misguided perception of the materiality of a quantity or quality
• Decision maker commits other logic errors when characterizing facts or conclusions leading to the errant perception of differences (see StrategyDriven Decision-Making Warning Flag article, Logic Fallacies Introduction)

Final Thought…

There are some instances where drawing a distinction without a difference has beneficial outcomes. These often occur in a motivational setting such as when a coach encourages his/her team not to beat the opponent but to dominate them. In both instances, the coach is encouraging his/her team to win – no difference – but a distinction is drawn to inspire and motivate the team.[/wcm_restrict][wcm_nonmember plans=”49475, 25542, 25653″]

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About the Author

Nathan Ives is a StrategyDriven Principal and Host of the StrategyDriven Podcast. For over twenty years, he has served as trusted advisor to executives and managers at dozens of Fortune 500 and smaller companies in the areas of management effectiveness, organizational development, and process improvement. To read Nathan’s complete biography, click here.