What Are We Missing? by Zafar Alam | Motivated Savages

What Are We Missing? How to Think More Clearly Before You Decide

by Zafar Alam

Fifteen real failures, from Deepwater Horizon to Challenger to Theranos, share one gap: the problem was never framed before the decision.

Buy the Book

ABOUT THE BOOK

On 20 April 2010 a drilling crew read an anomalous test as acceptable. Eleven men died. Smart people. Good information. The wrong decision. What were they missing?

This book argues that the information was rarely the problem. The question was. Across fifteen real-world cases, from Deepwater Horizon, Challenger and Volkswagen to Theranos, the 2008 crash and a hospital in Merced, it shows how a problem can be framed badly even when the people involved have good facts.

It then gives you PRISM, a five-move check to run before a decision hardens: at your desk, in a meeting, or alone. PRISM is a synthesis of tested parts, not a separately validated model, and the book says so.

Every case rests on the public record: official commissions, hearing transcripts and peer-reviewed research. All 498 sources are listed.

For managers, founders, doctors, parents, and anyone whose decisions other people have to live with.

About the author: Zafar Alam is a civil engineer and Chartered Construction Manager (MCIOB) with twelve years on major UK and Middle East projects.

Book Details:

• Genre: Professional Development, Decision-making, critical thinking, risk, systems failure
• Format: eBook