How Big Things Get Done audiobook cover - The Surprising Factors Behind Every Successful Project, from Home Renovations to Space Exploration

How Big Things Get Done

The Surprising Factors Behind Every Successful Project, from Home Renovations to Space Exploration

Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner

★ 4.0 / 5(286 ratings)
Start ListeningDownload App
Categories:
Management & LeadershipPsychologyEntrepreneurshipProductivity

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

Listen to How Big Things Get Done — Free Audiobook

Loading player...

Key Takeaways from How Big Things Get Done

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from How Big Things Get Done

Mind Map

How Big Things Get Done
The Iron Law of Megaprojects+
Avoiding the Commitment Fallacy+
Thinking Right to Left+
Find Your Lego (Modularity)+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 6
What is the primary reason cited by the authors for why the 'iron law of megaprojects' holds true?
  • A. Project managers intentionally underestimate budgets to secure initial funding from investors.
  • B. Megaprojects rely on complex systems that are inherently difficult to predict and control.
  • C. Government regulations frequently change during the course of a multi-year project.
  • D. Large-scale projects usually lack the necessary funding from the very beginning.
Question 2 of 6
According to the text, why should individuals undertaking small projects (like a home renovation) be concerned about the risks associated with megaprojects?
  • A. Small projects are often regulated by the same complex laws as large government infrastructure.
  • B. Individual contractors are statistically more likely to abandon small projects than corporate builders.
  • C. Small projects are also embedded in complex systems, and individuals lack the financial safety nets of large corporations to absorb extreme cost overruns.
  • D. The materials used in small renovations are subject to the same global supply chain shortages as large corporate builds.
Question 3 of 6
How does the California high-speed rail project illustrate the 'commitment fallacy'?
  • A. Policymakers continuously changed the route of the railway, causing massive delays and confusion.
  • B. The builders committed to a specific type of technology that became obsolete before the project was finished.
  • C. The public refused to commit to using the train, making the project economically unviable from the start.
  • D. Policymakers continued to pour resources into the project despite mounting costs, delays, and unforeseen complexities.
Question 4 of 6
What does it mean to apply the concept of 'thinking from right to left' to a new project?
  • A. Starting with a detailed analysis of your current resources before setting any goals.
  • B. Working backwards from your ultimate desired outcome to determine the necessary steps to achieve it.
  • C. Delegating the final stages of a project first so that the team can focus entirely on the beginning phases.
  • D. Shifting project deadlines to the right on a timeline to ensure there is enough built-in time for completion.
Question 5 of 6
In the example of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, what was the actual 'end goal' the local government started with when thinking from right to left?
  • A. Designing the most architecturally advanced building in Europe.
  • B. Securing an exclusive partnership with the Guggenheim foundation.
  • C. Achieving economic growth and revitalization for the city through tourism.
  • D. Creating a new public space for local artists to display their work.
Question 6 of 6
What is the main advantage of using 'modularity' (finding your Lego) in large projects, as demonstrated by Elon Musk's Gigafactory 1?
  • A. It allows project leaders to secure all necessary funding upfront before building begins.
  • B. It enables teams to build one massive structure simultaneously to save on labor costs.
  • C. It eliminates the need for strict timelines and budget constraints.
  • D. It allows for experimentation, fast failure, and rapid learning by repeating small, manageable pieces.

How Big Things Get Done — Full Chapter Overview

How Big Things Get Done Summary & Overview

How Big Things Get Done (2023) explores what it takes to make large-scale projects work. It tackles tough questions like why so many big projects fail, and what makes the ones that succeed stand out from the rest. With real-life success stories as well as cautionary tales, its lessons can be applied to projects of any size, shape, or form. 

Who Should Listen to How Big Things Get Done?

  • Project managers looking to hone in their skills
  • Anyone about to embark on a new project or start a new business
  • Fans of Elon Musk wanting to learn how he works his magic

About the Author: Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner

Dan Gardner is a Canadian journalist and bestselling author, with a focus on psychology, social trends, and public policy. He has written several books, including The Science of Fear and Superforecasting. His work has appeared in major publications such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Ottawa Citizen.

Bent Flyvbjerg is a professor of planning at Oxford University's Saïd Business School and a leading expert on the politics and management of megaprojects. He has published extensively on the subject, and his work has had a significant impact on the field of planning and project management.

🎧
Listen in the AppOffline playback & background play
Get App