/ Construction
Book marked as finished reading
How Big Things Get Done
2023, 231 pages
"Why do big projects go wrong so often, and are there any lessons you can use when renovating your kitchen? Bent Flyvbjerg is the 'megaproject' expert and Dan Gardner brings the storytelling skills to How Big Things Get Done, with examples ranging from a Jimi Hendrix studio to the Sydney Opera House."—Financial Times "Entertaining . . . There are lessons here for managers of all stripes."—The Economist A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: Economist, Financial Times, CEO Magazine, Morningstar Finalist for the Porchlight Business Book Award, the Financial Times and Schroders Business Book of the Year Award, and the Inc. Non-Obvious Book Award Nothing is more inspiring than a big vision that becomes a triumphant, new reality. Think of how the Empire State Building went from a sketch to the jewel of New York's skyline in twenty-one months, or how Apple's iPod went from a project with a single employee to a product launch in eleven months. These are wonderful stories. But most of the time big visions turn into nightmares. Remember Boston's "Big Dig"? Almost every sizeable city in the world has such a fiasco in its backyard. In fact, no less than 92% of megaprojects come in over budget or over schedule, or both. The cost of California's high-speed rail project soared from $33 billion to $100 billon—and won't even go where promised. More modest endeavors, 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, dubbed "the world's leading megaproject expert." In How Big Things Get Done, he identifies the errors in judgment and decision-making that lead projects, both big and small, to fail, and the research-based principles that will make you succeed with yours. For example: • 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. • Be a team maker. You won't succeed without an "us." • Master the unknown unknowns. Most think they can't, so they fail. Flyvbjerg shows how you can. • Know that your biggest risk is you. Full of vivid examples ranging from the building of the Sydney Opera House, to the making of the latest Pixar blockbusters, to a home renovation in Brooklyn gone awry, How Big Things Get Done reveals how to get any ambitious project done—on time and on budget.}
My Notes
Overview
"How Big Things Get Done" by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner is a brilliant examination of the challenges of managing and executing large-scale projects. The book articulately sets out the reasons why most ambitious endeavours fail (Only 0.5% of larger projects are successful!), while a small number of others succeed spectacularly. Drawing from an extensive database of project examples, the authors present a set of principles and strategies that can be applied to projects of any size, from home renovations to space exploration. They emphasize the importance of thorough planning, understanding risks, leveraging experience, building the right team, and modularity to overcome challenges in project management. This is probably the best book about project management I have ever read!
Key Takeaways
The key takeaways from the book include the critical importance of "thinking slow and acting fast." This counterintuitive approach emphasizes spending the time necessary to do careful and very complete planning before executing the work. The authors stress starting with the end goal in mind and working backward, and breaking large projects into smaller, manageable chunks. They also highlight the significance of team building, managing unknown variables, and recognizing that the biggest risk to any project is often the experience of project manager themselves. Specific key takeaways include the importance of an RCF, a Reference Class Forcast, to determine a realistic schedule and budget, having an experienced project manager and experienced team, and using modularity as a strategy for turning big projects into an aggregation of small projects. These insights are supported by vivid examples from various fields, including architecture, transportation, IT technology, and entertainment.
Relevance
I so wish I had read this project at the start of my career!!! Over my career, I have learned most of the lessons this book imparts, but it would have been better to understand them at the outset! Such is life. More generally, this book is particularly relevant in today's insanely fast-paced world where large ambitious projects are undertaken across every sector. It offers valuable lessons for architects, engineers, project managers, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and anyone involved in planning and executing large complex projects. The principles outlined in the book will help readers avoid endemic pitfalls, make informed decisions, and increase their chances of success. By providing a clear framework for executing big projects, the authors provide readers with effective tools to deal with scope, schedule and budget challenges, whether they're working on a large transportation project, a building project, a tech startup, or a community development project. The book's insights are especially valuable for those who want to understand the mechanics of successful project management and apply these lessons to their own endeavors, regardless of scale.
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