David H. Freedman Reihenfolge der Bücher

An eye-opening exploration of why experts are constantly misleading us-and what we can do about it.

Experten-Irrtümer sind nicht die Ausnahme, sondern die Regel. Hintergründe zu einem System, das falsche Aussagen belohnt. „Wenn die Welt zugrunde geht, so wird dies nicht wegen ihrer Verrückten geschehen, sondern wegen der Vernunft ihrer Experten“, sagte John le Carré. Experten rieten Generationen von Müttern, ihre Kinder schreien zu lassen, bis diese heiser und verzweifelt aufgaben. Experten machten Firmenchefs weis, dass Outsourcing profitabel sei und trieben Tausende ins berufliche Abseits. Experten stellten „zweifelsfrei“ fest, dass Saddam Hussein über Massenvernichtungswaffen verfüge und leiteten so den Irakkrieg ein. „Irren ist menschlich“, werden manche beschwichtigend einwenden. Es sind aber gerade die Fachleute aller Couleur, die überproportional häufig Irrtümer verbreiten, weiß David H. Freedman. Die Selbstüberschätzung der Kompetenzträger sowie die Käuflichkeit und Manipulierbarkeit von „Wahrheit“ sind Systemfehler, die dafür sorgen, dass falsche Expertisen eher die Regel als die Ausnahme sind. Leichtgläubigkeit und Autoritätshörigkeit der Beratenen machen das Chaos perfekt. Die unumstößliche Wahrheit von gestern ist stets der offensichtliche Irrtum von morgen.

Die Autoren zeigen, dass übermäßige Ordnung in Alltag und Arbeit oft mehr kostet als sie nützt. Durch Beispiele aus verschiedenen Bereichen belegen sie, dass Mut zur Unordnung zu mehr Effizienz, Kreativität und Erfolg führen kann. Ordnung kann Zeit, Energie und Geld verschwenden.

Ever since Einstein's study of Brownian motion, scientists have understood that a little disorder can actually make systems more effective. But most people still shun disorder-or suffer guilt over the mess they can't avoid. No longer! With a spectacular array of true stories and case studies of the hidden benefits of mess, A PERFECT MESS overturns the accepted wisdom that tight schedules, organization, neatness, and consistency are the keys to success. Drawing on examples from business, parenting, cooking, the war on terrorism, retail, and even the meteoric career of Arnold Schwarzenegger, coauthors Abrahamson and Freedman demonstrate that moderately messy systems use resources more efficiently, yield better solutions, and are harder to break than neat ones. Applying this idea on scales both large (government, society) and small (desktops, garages), A PERFECT MESS uncovers all the ways messiness can trump neatness, and will help you assess the right amount of disorder for any system. Whether it's your company's management plan or your hallway closet that bedevils you, this book will show you why to say yes to mess.

What's the best-run enterprise in the world? It just may be the Marine Corps. Far from being the hidebound, autocratic entity that most people imagine, the Corps has created a stunningly nimble, almost freewheelingly adaptive organization. The result: Though often faced with extraordinarily dynamic and complex challenges, the Marines get the job done every time. Their secret? Don't think boot camp. Instead, the Marines have refined a wide-ranging system of management practices that have undergone continuous evolution under the most demanding conditions conceivable. Armed with these straightforward principles, any organization can achieve the high-impact responsiveness demanded by today's ultra-competitive, fast-changing business environments. In Corps Business, author David H. Freedman brings these principles--and their application to the business world--to light in clear, fascinating form. Freedman brings you along to observe, firsthand the high-speed Marine environment, where you'll take part in urban combat practice maneuvers, sit in on mission planning sessions, spend time on a "floating invasion party," and participate in a live-fire combat exercise. Along the way, you'll tap the wisdom of scores of Marines from three-star generals to grunts. Here are some examples: Managing by end-state--Tell people what needs to be accomplished and why, and leave the details to them. The 70-percent solution--It's better to decide quickly on an imperfect plan than to spend time considering every angle and roll out a perfect plan when it's too late. Authority on demand--While retaining a strong management pyramid, encourage people even at the lowest levels to make any and all decisions necessary to accomplish the mission when management guidance isn't at hand.Anyone facing entrenched or predatory competitors, short time frames, chaotic markets, and obstacles in every direction, has a simple choice: Learn to move fast, change on the fly, and inspire employees--or die. The Marines are here to help. With a foreword by Gen. Charles C. Krulak, Thirty-first Commandant of the United States Marine Corps.

Describes how one computer hacker was able to access hundreds of business and government files and explains why the Internet is becoming less secure

This book emphasizes foundational concepts through practical, real-world examples and data, making complex ideas accessible without delving into advanced mathematics. It's designed for readers seeking to understand essential principles in a straightforward manner.