De-escalation of Commitment

What it is

Simonson and Staw found three procedures most effective: making negative outcomes less threatening, setting minimum target levels whose failure triggers a policy change, and judging decision makers by process and not only outcome. In three experiments, Sivanathan and colleagues found that affirming an unrelated strength or a cherished value reduced reinvestment, while affirming the ability the failed decision questioned increased it.

In effect

In the article on escalation of commitment, it serves as the set of ways a team can stop backing a failing plan.

What it does not say

The findings come from experiments, and affirmation worked only when it did not target the ability the failed decision questioned. They do not say that any one procedure ends escalation in every setting.

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