Editor’s note: Employers Council offers members access to a library of books. This article is part of an ongoing series to introduce members to the collection.
For years, members have told us they are undergoing major changes to meet evolving business and societal conditions. Leaders are pushing their organizations to innovate and meet the challenges of a dynamic environment. To support these efforts, How Big Things Get Done was recently added to the lending library collection.
Written by Danish author Bent Flyvbjerg, a professor at the University of Oxford and global business consultant, he shares his analysis of the world’s largest database of mega projects to explain the conditions that lead to project failure and success. Published in 2023, timely references are made to forces at work in our world today, including climate change, politics, and post-pandemic workforces.
How Big Things Get Done describes failures on an epic scale – stories of billions of dollars wasted, careers ended, reputations ruined – to drive home the serious consequences of human frailty and the difficulty of achieving great things. Happily, the author balances depressing stories with inspiring examples of successes of all sorts, from teams of animation studio artists making great movies, to blue collar workers building massive structures. Comparisons are drawn to explain the difference between success and failure. Teamwork, psychological safety, and workplace culture all appear in the equation he outlines that contributes to success.
Flyvbjerg delves into human psychology to reveal how innate tendencies, emotions, and biases set people up for wasted energy and predictable failure. To effectively manage the risks of being imperfectly human, we must develop self-awareness and take intentional efforts to achieve great things in a responsible manner. As noted in this striking statement ending the book: “The greatest threat Lasko (an event organizer) faced wasn’t out in the world, it was in his own head, in his behavioral biases. This is true for every one of us and every project. Which is why your biggest risk is you.”
Most of the book is easy to read and entertaining with real-life, engaging stories about amazing projects around the world (Sydney Opera House, underground high-speed trains, etc.), as well as nightmare home renovations (think HGTV gone horribly wrong). At times, the book gets technical and wonky, a bit self-promotional, and some may find it biased (e.g., solar and wind power are lauded over nuclear and fossil fuels). Extensive footnotes are provided to examine the book’s assertions and conclusions.
How Big Things Get Done explores important concepts on human nature, warning signs of predictable failure, and outlines challenging ideas with data-supported conclusions that may defy reader’s preconceptions. Flyvbjerg offers action steps that are practical and doable at any scale — they apply equally to individuals with home projects, governments building infrastructure, or corporations creating new products.
How Big Things Get Done is available to check out from the Employers Council library; browse the entire Lending Library collection for more titles.
Employers Council Resources
Resources for individuals who seek to enhance their ability to get big things done:
Resources for employers who seek to build leaders and teams to get big things done:
James McDonough is an HR research consultant for Employers Council.