Universal Principles of Design, Updated and Expanded Third Edition

125 Not Invented Here

A tendency to oppose ideas and innovations that originate outside of your social group.

The not-invented-here (NIH) syndrome is an organizational phenomenon in which groups resist ideas and inputs from external sources, often resulting in subpar performance and redundant effort (i.e., “reinventing the wheel”). The “external sources” can be from outside the organization or from inside the organization but from a different team, department, or office at a different geographic location. In this way, NIH manifests as a form of tribalism, resisting things simply because they originate from an outgroup or “other”. 1

Four social dynamics underlie NIH: 2

1. Belief that internal capabilities are superior to external capabilities ...