Addressing Cognitive Bias in Systems Engineering Teams Thomas A. McDermott Stevens Institute of Technology Atlanta, GA 30060 USA tamcdermott42@gmail.com Dennis J. Folds Lowell Scientific Enterprises Carrollton, GA 30116 USA dennis.folds@gmail.com Leonie Hallo Adelaide Business School The University of Adelaide South Australia 5005, Australia leonie.hallo@adelaide.edu.au Copyright © 2020 by the authors. Published and used by INCOSE with permission. Abstract. Cognitive bias is a general issue in human decision making. It is easy to assume there is less bias in engineering, systems engineering, and program management, as these are generally considered rational processes. However, human decision making is almost always affected by bias. In the systems engineering practice as well as training systems engineers, we find directly addressing principles of human cognition, decision-making, and bias to be an important part of individual and team learning. In the context of systems engineering competencies, these principles are core to mastery of systems and critical thinking, facilitation, and team dynamics. This paper discusses the characteristics of thinking, cognition, and decision-making; conceptual approaches in psychology that frame these characteristics in the context of human decisions; common biases that affect decisions in the domain of systems engineering; and application of systems thinking tools to help overcome these issues. Introduction Human information processing commonly leads to biased decisions. Sometimes these biases are beneficial, and sometimes they lead to errors, but they are always present. Cognitive biases and associated errors are a natural part of human decision making, are always present, and should be recognized as an important part of engineering decisions. The decisions people make are generally motivated by emotion or other irrational factors, even in the context of processes that are intended to improve rational thought. Team tactics are needed to activate controlled decision-making pro- cesses that are more rational. Group decision-making can create the conditions where dissenting views and inconsistencies can emerge and be recognized. Unbiased decision making is a core goal of systems engineering, encouraging careful considera- tion of stakeholder needs, design alternatives, and programmatic constraints and risks. However, as systems engineers we must understand that while our discipline encourages rational decision