How Big Things Get Done: The Surprising Factors That Determine the Fate of Every Project, from Home Renovations to Space Exploration and Everything In Between - Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner

Title: How Big Things Get Done: The Surprising Factors That

Determine the Fate of Every Project, from Home Renovations to Space Exploration and Everything In Between
Author: Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner
ISBN: 978-0-77109-843-7
Publisher: Signal Press
Year: 2023
Hardcover
Pages: 304 

In his book "How Big Things Get Done," Bent Flyvbjerg takes a critical look at the process of planning and executing large-scale projects. Flyvbjerg, a renowned scholar practitioner in the field of project management, challenges conventional wisdom and presents a thought-provoking analysis of the factors that often lead to project failures. With extensive research and insightful examples, the author offers valuable lessons for both practitioners and policymakers involved in ambitious endeavors.

Flyvbjerg begins by highlighting the pervasive optimism bias that tends to permeate project planning. He argues that project promoters, driven by their desire for success, often downplay risks and overstate benefits, leading to unrealistic expectations. Through empirical evidence and case studies, Flyvbjerg demonstrates how these overly optimistic projections can result in significant cost overruns, delays, and, in some cases, complete project failures. By exposing the pitfalls of unchecked optimism, the author urges project managers to adopt a more realistic and skeptical approach to project planning.

One of the key themes in the book is the concept of "strategic misrepresentation." Flyvbjerg argues that due to political pressures and the need to secure funding, project promoters frequently engage in strategic misrepresentation, intentionally presenting a distorted view of the project's costs, benefits, and risks. The author provides numerous examples, such as the Boston's Big Dig project and the Sydney Opera House, to illustrate how these misrepresentations can have severe consequences. By shedding light on this pervasive practice, Flyvbjerg calls for greater transparency and accountability in project governance.

Throughout the book, Flyvbjerg emphasizes the importance of accurate and unbiased data in project decision-making. He criticizes the prevalent reliance on flawed cost-benefit analyses and argues for the use of more robust methods, such as reference class forecasting. This approach involves comparing a new project to similar projects from the past to obtain more reliable estimates. By advocating for evidence-based decision-making, Flyvbjerg challenges the prevalent culture of project management and provides a blueprint for improving the accuracy of project assessments.

In addition to highlighting the problems, Flyvbjerg also offers potential solutions for improving project outcomes. He suggests the establishment of an independent project review board to assess and evaluate large-scale projects. This board would be responsible for conducting unbiased analyses, providing accurate information, and ensuring that project promoters are held accountable for their claims. By proposing this mechanism, Flyvbjerg aims to counterbalance the political and economic pressures that often undermine project governance.

While "How Big Things Get Done" provides valuable insights and an emphasis into the challenges of large-scale project management, the book does identify a number of large projects that have met the triple criteria of on-time, on budget and delivering what was promised. These include examples such as the Empire State Building and a nationwide Nepalese education infrastructure project.

In conclusion, Bent Flyvbjerg's "How Big Things Get Done" offers a compelling and thought-provoking analysis of the pitfalls and shortcomings of project management. By examining the influence of optimism bias, strategic misrepresentation, and flawed decision-making processes, Flyvbjerg provides valuable lessons for anyone involved in planning and executing large-scale projects. The book's emphasis on transparency, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making makes it a timely and important contribution to the field of project management.