Principlev1
Define success criteria and measurement methods before
Define success criteria and measurement methods before implementing any optimization change, because post-hoc evaluation enables unconscious redefinition of success to match whatever occurred.
Why This Is a Principle
Grounded in Hindsight Bias and Calibration Necessity (memory reconstructs toward known outcomes), Systematic Overconfidence Taxonomy (overconfidence), and Belief Perseverance Against Contradictory Evidence (belief perseverance). Pre-commitment to criteria prevents hindsight bias from corrupting evaluation.