---
title: "Distinguish Between Tigers and Mice in Design"
source: "https://virtualddd.com/heuristics/distinguish-between-tigers-and-mice-in-design/"
authors: ["Krisztina Hirth", "Andrea Magnorsky", "Kenny Schwegler"]
tags: ["sociotechnical systems", "decision-making process", "collaborative software design", "facilitating software architecture and design"]
type: "value based heuristics"
question: "How do we prioritize which design battles to fight and which to concede?"
submitter: "Krisztina Hirth"
---

# Distinguish Between Tigers and Mice in Design

Focus architectural oversight on decisions with long-lasting, severe impact ('tigers') rather than on smaller, correctable mistakes ('mice'). Wasting political and emotional capital on minor issues is counterproductive when major systemic risks exist. This approach grants teams autonomy on less critical decisions.

![Credits: Krisztina Hirth Picture of Xin Yao’s keynote @ KanDDDinsky 2025](./_assets/distinguish-between-tigers-and-mice-in-design-body-1.png)

## Examples

The team's poor event design was a 'mouse' because it created waste but did not threaten the entire system's viability. Therefore, it was an acceptable area for the team to make a mistake and learn from it.