Not Invented Here, NIH
Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30
CORE DEFINITION
A team or company tends to reject externally developed technology, standards, or knowledge, insisting on reinventing the wheel themselves. The rationale is usually "external things are unsafe/not suitable for us/not as good as what we can do," but in reality it stems from arrogance or territorialism. -
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
A touchstone for open innovation. - Many companies waste resources building "inferior internal wheels." A mature team is measured by whether they take pride in "solving problems" rather than "writing code themselves." Skillfully integrating external best practices (taking what is useful) is often more competitive than starting from scratch.
Anchor fast decisions
Not Invented Here (NIH) Syndrome refers to an organization's preference for self-development and rejection of external achievements, even when external solutions are superior, stemming from territorialism and achievement motivation.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/4Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Not_invented_hereverified
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