Simply put, the not invented here syndrome is a mindset that favours internally developed products over externally developed products.
NIH can be observed in individuals or organizations. It can turn into a problem when it leads to “re-inventing the wheel”.
NIH can be a result of pride or in general, less trust in solutions not created by oneself.
Impact
The impact of NIH can be observed at 2 levels:
- Individual
- Organisation
Individual-level
NIH in itself is not a good or bad thing. Its implications on individuals may vary based on the situation.
Pros
- Increased confidence in the solution, as you feel personally involved
- Evolution of both product and skills
- The best-suited solution which does not try doing everything
Cons
- Additional time and effort spent on an already solved problem
- Prone to creator bias
- More likely to have problems and un-foreseen edge cases
How to choose whether to create or use an already existing solution?
