How Big Things Get Done
The Surprising Factors Behind Every Successful Project, from Home Renovations to Space Exploration
(Autor) Bent FlyvbjergBest Books of 2023 - The Financial Times and The Economist Shortlisted for Financial Times and Schroders Business Book of the Year 2023 'Important, timely, instructive and entertaining' - Daniel Kahneman, bestselling author of Thinking, Fast and Slow World expert Bent Flyvbjerg and bestselling author Dan Gardner reveal the secrets to successfully planning and delivering ambitious projects on any scale. Nothing is more inspiring than a big vision that becomes a triumphant new reality. Think of how Apple's iPod went from a project with a single employee to an enormously successful product launch in eleven months. But such successes are the exception. Consider how London's Crossrail project delivered five years late and billions over budget. More modest endeavours, whether launching a small business, organizing a conference, or just finishing a work project on time, also commonly fail. Why? Understanding what distinguishes the triumphs from the failures has been the life's work of Oxford professor Bent Flyvbjerg. In How Big Things Get Done, he identifies the errors that lead projects to fail, and the research-based principles that will make yours succeed: - Understand your odds. If you don't know them, you won't win. - Plan slow, act fast. Getting to the action quick feels right. But it's wrong. - Think right to left. Start with your goal, then identify the steps to get there. - Find your Lego. Big is best built from small. - Master the unknown unknowns. Most think they can't, so they fail. Flyvbjerg shows how you can. Full of vivid examples ranging from the building of the Sydney Opera House to the making of the latest Pixar blockbusters, How Big Things Get Done reveals how to get any ambitious project done - on time and on budget. 'Entertaining . . . compelling . . . there are lessons here for managers of all stripes' - The Economist
Bent Flyvbjerg
Bent Flyvbjerg is a prominent Danish social scientist known for his research in the fields of planning and decision-making. He is particularly famous for his concept of phronetic social science, which emphasizes the importance of practical wisdom in policy-making. Flyvbjerg's most notable works include "Making Social Science Matter" and "Rationality and Power: Democracy in Practice." His writing style is characterized by a rigorous analytical approach and a focus on real-world applications. Flyvbjerg's contributions to literature have had a significant impact on the field of social science research, inspiring new methodologies and approaches to understanding complex social phenomena. His most famous work, "Making Social Science Matter," has become a seminal text for scholars and practitioners alike.
Other related
The Invisible Doctrine
The Secret History of Neoliberalism (& How It Came to Control Your Life)
