Subtraction can be more effective than addition in problem-solving. Always ask 'What can we subtract?'
In product development, companies like WhatsApp, Canva, and Apple have succeeded by simplifying their interfaces and products.
To incorporate subtraction in product processes, reduce cognitive load, optimize notifications, and reassess onboarding. Team exercises like 'Subtract the Obvious' and 'Worst Feature Elimination' can help identify what to remove.
To get into tech as a behavioral scientist, consider starting in a junior PM role, transferring internally, working at a startup, or starting your own company.
Before transitioning into tech, make sure you enjoy building software and understand how tech teams work.
Experienced behavioral scientists can enter tech by joining a big tech company as a researcher, rebranding as a data scientist, or joining a tech company that values behavioral science as part of its IP.
Product squads in tech actively use psychology and behavior science tactics like personalization and defaults to drive metrics.
Top nudges used today include personalization, timely prompts, defaults, and social norms, while scarcity and commitment devices are less common.
Personalization and defaults are perceived as the most effective techniques for driving metrics in tech products, with defaults being notably effective in behavioral science.
The newsletter explores the connection between behavioral science and technology, focusing on how technology uses psychology and behavioral biases.
The author has a diverse background, including training in economics, consulting, working at the UK's Nudge Unit, and being a Product Manager at a tech scale-up.
The newsletter includes insights from a meeting in 2007 between psychologists, notably Daniel Kahneman, and tech leaders, showcasing how tech has integrated behavioral science concepts since the Web 2.0 era.