Reading: How Big Things Get Done

i.e. how to renovate your kitchen on time and budget

I was always fascinated by project dynamics. Whenever I have an opportunity to better understand why some projects fail and others are delivered on time and budget, I’m eager to take it.

That’s why I was very curious about “How Big Things Get Done” by

Bent Flyvbjerg

and

Dan Gardner

. Flyvbjerg is a leading expert on mega-projects. Together with his partners, he created a database of big projects and their performance. Based on this database and vast experience working with mega-projects, they try to explain why some of them fail and others are successful.

Book is packed with valuable lessons and examples. The authors effectively use case studies to illustrate both failures and unexpected successes. It does a great job of showing what sets successful projects apart from those that drag for years.

My favorite idea from the book is the importance of modularization. I always paid attention to repetitive areas of my work that can be packed into easy-to-describe procedures or even better - automated, but I wasn’t aware how big a difference modularization plays when it comes to project management. If you are able to split your project into simple repetitive blocks, delivering something huge is as simple as building many simple things. However, if you are building something huge that is unique or bespoke, you are most likely in for trouble.

Image from book presenting project types arranged by type of distribution.

The image above comes from the book and shows how different projects follow distinct distribution patterns. A 'thin-tailed' distribution indicates a higher likelihood of being delivered on time and within budget. Opposite to that, a 'fat-tailed' distribution suggests greater risk of scope creep and exceeding planned resources.

Projects shown on the left side, can often be broken down into simple, repeatable modules – like the thousands of identical solar panels used in a solar farm. On the other hand, unique and highly customized projects tend to have a broader distribution, meaning there's a higher risk of delays or cost overruns. Think of the Olympics, where each event strives to be bigger and different from the last.

What’s also great about this book is that it can help with projects we all need to manage in our lives. Kitchen renovation, building a house, planning holidays. Most ideas from the book translate well to those projects and can help you get through them smoother, on time, and on budget. This book will be a valuable read for project managers, leaders in large organizations, and anyone embarking on significant personal endeavors.