Why the Safe Choices Stifle Innovation

Greg Twemlow argues that traditional assessment methods in hiring and education prioritise safe, predictable candidates over innovative thinkers, which hinders progress. He introduces the Bias-Aware Assessment (BAA) as a novel approach designed to identify individuals with adaptability, critical thinking, and the ability to navigate uncertainty. BAA uses comparative judgement and dynamic ranking to evaluate how people apply knowledge and make strategic decisions, moving away from rote memorisation and static evaluations. By focusing on trade-off awareness and the willingness to challenge the status quo, BAA aims to surface individuals who can drive innovation and thrive in a rapidly changing world. Twemlow contends that this shift towards valuing adaptability over mere predictability is essential for future success on individual, corporate, and national levels. Read the article.About the Author - Greg Twemlow writes and teaches at the intersection of technology, education, and human judgment. He works with educators and businesses to make AI explainable and assessable in classrooms and boardrooms — to ensure AI users show their process and own their decisions. His cognition protocol, the Context & Critique Rule™, is built on a three-step process: Evidence → Cognition → Discernment — a bridge from what’s scattered to what’s chosen. Context & Critique → Accountable AI™. © 2025 Greg Twemlow. “Context & Critique → Accountable AI” and “Context & Critique Rule” are unregistered trademarks (™).