Do you simplify decisions for your peers, bosses, and clients in your daily work? Do you modify source code, pipelines, and algorithms to make it easier ("guide") for people to follow the planned path? If so, you might be a [Software] Choice Architect!

This week I finished reading Nudge: The Final Edition written by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein. In it, the authors explain this concept of Choice Architect.

Throughout my career, I've always tried to reduce the complexity of tasks and choices to make meetings faster and decisions more practical, but I had never heard the term Choice Architect before, and I loved it.

In the book, the authors explore various concepts for directing or influencing people's choices, marketing techniques that are present in many things, and that we software developers can also use in our products.

The authors talk about better product arrangements on supermarket shelves. For us? It would be where to best place the buy button or that sponsored ad or banner.

They also explore anchoring bias and confirmation bias, things we can use very well during meetings and process definitions, among other topics.

The book is a bit old, but its latest version has been updated to adapt to more current concepts. As usual, I listened to each of these tips while doing my daily exercise routine. The work is narrated by Sean Pratt.

And if you'd also like to learn more about these techniques and improve your office life and meeting participation, this book is definitely worth reading.

Image of book Nudge


This is my reading log for tracking progress in my personal development plan. Links may participate of referral program. Images generated by AI