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What Did We Know? What Did We Do?
Book

What Did We Know? What Did We Do?

Making Decisions in Large Organizations

Smart Business Books, 2018 plus...


Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Well Structured
  • Engaging
  • Insider's Take

Recommendation

Fred Herzner, engineer and head of GE’s flight safety program from 1995 to 2003, believes he might have been able to prevent the loss of 111 lives in a 1989 plane crash if he’d made one decision differently three decades ago. His lack of action has haunted him, leading to this personal investigation of how people and organizations make consequential decisions and how they might do better. Herzner provides an important warning to leaders to never grow complacent nor overvalue money, results or deadlines at the cost of ethics and safety. He offers a principles-based structure and a methodical strategy for making better decisions. Herzner’s heartfelt, honest guide speaks to all leaders whose decisions affect people’s health and safety. 

Take-Aways

  • Dangerous endeavors always entail risk – whether flying planes or drilling holes miles beneath the oceans. 
  • Balance risk against opportunity. Make decisions with safety, ethics and openness foremost in mind.
  • Tragedies almost always result from a chain of bad decisions.

About the Author

Fred Herzner served as chief engineer and head of GE’s flight safety program from 1995 to 2003. Since retiring – and spurred by his involvement with the 1989 United Airlines Flight 232 disaster – he has focused on safety, organizational culture and the decision-making processes surrounding corporate ethics. 


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