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Making Information Visible Changes Behavior
Product / Advice
Show the number and behaviour shifts. You don't need rules, just visibility.
The Idea
When people see what's happening, they change what they do. Toyota's andon cords, open kanban boards, public dashboards — visibility nudges behaviour without mandates.
Why It Matters
- People align to what's visible and measured.
- Hidden metrics drift. Visible ones improve.
- Transparency often replaces process.
How to Apply
- Put the metric where people see it every day.
- Show trends, not just totals.
- Make it possible to act on what's shown — visibility without agency breeds frustration.
Examples
- Public status pages reduce support load.
- Showing calories changes eating habits.
- Exposing team velocity changes estimation.
The Trap
Measuring what's easy instead of what matters. When a vanity metric becomes visible, people game it. Pick metrics worth moving.
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