The bus factor is a measure of a team's resilience and their ability to function effectively when key members are unavailable. It refers to the number of individuals who possess critical knowledge or expertise about a specific software or system. This concept highlights the risk or vulnerability that arises if those individuals were suddenly no longer accessible, such as due to unforeseen circumstances like being hit by a bus.

Instead of focusing on the negative aspect of losing key team members, it's beneficial to shift our perspective to a more positive scenario. Consider a situation where team members win the lottery and choose to retire or pursue other interests. In this context, the lottery factor represents the team's capability to smoothly carry on their work and maintain productivity despite the sudden departure of these fortunate individuals.

While retirement typically involves a planned handover process, it also underscores the importance of knowledge sharing, pair programming, and having a well-documented system to ensure the team's continued success, even in the face of unexpected changes or fortunate events.

In general, adopting a positive framing and replacing the notion of the "bus factor" with the "lottery factor" can help emphasize the team's ability to adapt and thrive under various circumstances. It encourages a focus on resilience while maintaining a positive ideology.