How Complex Systems Fail

Did you look at the video presentation by Steven Spear? What is a complex

system? Are large organizations complex systems? What were the key lessons

learnt by the author in his study of Toyota? What are high-velocity organizations?

Can you describe the four capabilities that distinguish the high-velocity

organizations (the rabbits) from the rest (the pack)? What precisely are normal

accidents, as put forward by Charles Perrow? Who or what killed Mrs Grant?

What really caused the Columbia disaster? And what did Steven Spear find when

he studied one of the manufacturing operations of General Motors?