How Big Things Get Done
The Surprising Factors Behind Every Successful Project, from Home Renovations to Space Exploration
Bent Flyvbjerg author Dan Gardner author
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Pan Macmillan
Published:4th Apr '24
Currently unavailable, our supplier has indicated it should be available around 20th January 2025
This insightful book reveals strategies for successfully managing complex projects, emphasizing planning, understanding odds, and breaking tasks into manageable parts, as demonstrated in How Big Things Get Done.
In How Big Things Get Done, authors Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner explore the intricate dynamics of managing ambitious projects. They delve into the common pitfalls that lead to project failures, such as the infamous London Crossrail project, which faced significant delays and budget overruns. Through a series of compelling examples, including the rapid success of Apple's iPod, the authors illustrate the stark contrast between successful and unsuccessful endeavors. These narratives serve not only to entertain but also to provide valuable insights into effective project management.
The book emphasizes the importance of understanding the odds of success, advocating for a methodical approach to planning. Flyvbjerg and Gardner argue that taking time to develop a solid foundation is crucial for achieving results. They suggest that by thinking from the end goal backward, project managers can better identify the necessary steps to reach their objectives. Additionally, the authors introduce the idea of 'finding your Lego,' which implies that large projects should be broken down into manageable components to facilitate smoother execution.
Ultimately, How Big Things Get Done serves as a practical guide for anyone involved in project management. With research-backed principles and vivid case studies, the authors equip readers with the tools needed to navigate the complexities of large-scale projects. By mastering the unknowns and planning effectively, readers can turn their ambitious visions into reality.
Important, timely, instructive and entertaining. What more could you ask for? -- Daniel Kahneman, winner of the Nobel Prize in economics and author of Thinking, Fast and Slow
A wise, vivid and unforgettable combination of inspiring storytelling with decades of practical research and experience -- Tim Harford, bestselling author of How to Make the World Add Up
Entertaining . . . compelling . . . there are lessons here for managers of all stripes * The Economist *
Full of delicious anecdotes about project management disasters . . . Flyvbjerg and co-author Gardner succeed in extracting valuable lessons from these failures – and some occasional successes -- Financial Times, 'FT business books: What to read this month'
Having researched the properties of planning errors, I am confident that nobody has studied the topic more broadly and deeply than Bent Flyvbjerg. His focus ranges from Olympic Games to the renovation of your dog house -- Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Distinguished Professor of Risk Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, and author of The Black Swan
My only complaint about this book is that it wasn’t written earlier. It distils decades of systematic research from thousands of projects. The result is a crystal-clear pattern of surprising reasons why almost all big human projects fail to deliver as expected -- Ola Rosling, bestselling co-author of Factfulness
The best scientific advice on project planning. It is arguably the bargain of the century.For a few dollars you can tap into thousands of dollars of insights in executive-education classrooms -- Philip Tetlock, bestselling co-author of Superforecasting
A truly fascinating read.There’s a practical pay-off, too: a toolbox with eleven smart heuristics for better project leadership that every planner should know -- Gerd Gigerenzer, author of Gut Feelings
ISBN: 9781035018956
Dimensions: 197mm x 130mm x 20mm
Weight: 210g
304 pages