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Why misfit combinations can hurt good ideas

12 August 2026

Can a mismatch affect how we judge quality?

In this video, Keyvan Vakili, Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at London Business School, explains the concept of misfit bias.

The research shows that when a collection feels mismatched, people rate the individual elements inside it more negatively, even when their quality is unchanged.

The takeaway is simple: misfit can distort how quality is judged.

Download the research paper

Can a mismatch affect how we judge quality?

In this video, Keyvan Vakili, Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at London Business School, explains the concept of misfit bias.

The research shows that when a collection feels mismatched, people rate the individual elements inside it more negatively, even when their quality is unchanged.

The takeaway is simple: misfit can distort how quality is judged.

Download the research paper

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