Planning Fallacy (When planning a task why do we underestimate how long it will take to complete the task?)
The planning fallacy, a brief explanation
What is the planning fallacy?
The planning fallacy is the tendency to underestimate how long it will take to complete a task when we are planning the task.
Examples
When preparing for an important exam you may make a plan for your revision but underestimate how long it will take to go through the materials and complete the revision.
When planning some diy jobs around your house you may not allocate enough time to complete the jobs.
The literature
Roger, B., Dale, G. & Ross, M. (1994). Exploring the “planning fallacy”: why people underestimate their task completion times. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67(3), 366-381. Doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.67.3.366
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