General
hippo
What does hippo mean?
The tendency for decisions to follow the most senior person's view rather than the data.
"The A/B test said blue, but the HiPPO wanted green."
Origin
Acronym coined in analytics circles (Avinash Kaushik popularised it).
Frequently asked questions
What does HiPPO stand for?
'Highest Paid Person's Opinion', referring to decisions that follow the most senior person's view rather than the data.
Where did the term HiPPO come from?
It was coined in web-analytics circles and popularised by Avinash Kaushik to criticise data being overruled by seniority.
Is calling something a HiPPO decision an insult?
It's mildly critical. It implies the choice was driven by rank rather than evidence, so it's often used with a hint of frustration.
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