Escalation of Commitment

Escalation of Commitment is a critical decision-making bias for Zambian tertiary health students to recognize and avoid. It refers to the tendency to continue investing in a failing course of action due to prior investments of time, money, or effort, even when evidence suggests withdrawal is wiser. Students analyze this concept in the context of Zambian healthcare projects, such as persisting with an underperforming health program. Understanding this psychological trap is vital for exams and for future leadership, enabling managers to make objective, evidence-based decisions, cut losses when necessary, and reallocate scarce resources to more effective initiatives, thereby improving healthcare outcomes and financial stewardship in Zambia.