HW03-How to Avoid Catastrophe.pdf

Read the attached article and answer these questions:

1. How do we usually misinterpret near misses?

2. What are the cognitive biases which help managers to ignore near misses? Briefly explain.

3. Do you agree with the author when he objects to the phrase: "You cannot argue with success"? Briefly discuss.

4. How does the combination of latent error and enabling conditions lead to a great failure?

5. In addition to the examples in the article, name two other failures/disasters and show their latent error and enabling conditions.

6. Briefly describe the seven strategies to recognize near misses and root out the latent errors behind them. Discuss how practical these strategies could be

"How to Avoid Catastrophe"

By: C. H. Tinsley, R. L. Dillon, and P. M. Madsen

Harvard Business Review, Apr2011, Vol. 89 Issue 4, p90-97