Assignment 3: Moneyball

Moneyball, a book by Michael Lewis (2003), highlights how creativity, framing, and robust technical analysis all played a part in the development of a new approach to talent management in baseball. It also exhibited great examples of the biases and psychological pitfalls that plague decision makers.

Review the article “Who’s on First?” by Thaler & Sunstein (2003) from this module’s assigned readings. This article reviews the book Moneyball by Michael Lewis.

Write a critique of the article including the following points:

• Examine why sabermetric-based player evaluation is such a shock to other executives in baseball.
• Evaluate why Beane is much more effective in his success by constructing a matrix of pitfalls and heuristics that highlight the differences between Beane’s team and other executives.
• Moneyball highlights how people tend to overestimate the likelihood of success and end up facing financial loss—in this case, it meant forfeiting millions of dollars. Analyze a professional or personal decision (yours or otherwise) that highlights this predilection in spite of substantial losses.
• Explain how you would apply Moneyball’s management lessons in your own endeavors.

Write a 3–5-page paper in Word format. Apply APA standards to citation of sources. 

Lewis, M. (2003). Moneyball. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company.

Hayashi, A. M. (2001). When to TRUST Your GUT. Harvard Business Review, 79(2), 59–65.

Assignment 3 Grading Criteria Maximum Points 

Explained why sabermetric-based player evaluation is a shock to other executives in baseball.12 

Analyzed Beane’s effectiveness in a matrix of pitfalls and heuristics.24 

Analyzed a professional or personal decision that highlights the tendency to overestimate the likelihood of success.24 

Applied Moneyball management lessons in personal endeavors.20 

Wrote in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrated ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; displayed accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.20

Total:100