How Big Things Get Done

The secrets to successfully planning and executing ambitious, complex projects of any size – from renovating a house to space travel – from the world's leading expert on megaprojects. Nothing is more inspiring than a grand vision that becomes a triumphant new reality. Think about how the Empire State Building went from a sketch to a jewel of the New York skyline in just twenty-one months, or how Apple's iPod evolved from a project with a single employee to a product launch in eleven months. These are wonderful stories. Yet, more often than not, grand visions turn into nightmares. Remember Boston's 'Big Dig'? Almost every major city in the world has such a fiasco in its backyard. In fact, no less than 92% of megaprojects exceed their budget or schedule, or both. The costs of California's high-speed rail project skyrocketed from $33 billion to $100 billion – and it won't even go where promised. Even more modest endeavors, whether starting a small business, organizing a conference, or simply completing a work project on time, often fail. Why? Understanding what distinguishes triumphs from failures has been the life work of Oxford professor Bent Flyvbjerg, regarded as 'the world's leading megaproject expert.' In "How Big Things Get Done," he identifies the judgment and decision-making errors that lead to project failures, both large and small, as well as the research-based principles that will help you succeed.