#1719

Mentioned in 15 episodes

The Unaccountability Machine

Why Big Systems Make Terrible Decisions - and How The World Lost its Mind

Book • 2024

In 'The Unaccountability Machine', Dan Davies explores why large systems, including markets, institutions, and governments, often produce outcomes that no one intends.

He draws on the work of Stafford Beer, a pioneer in management cybernetics, to explain how organizations can be seen as artificial intelligences making decisions independent of their members' intentions.

Davies critiques the current state of management and economic systems, highlighting the concept of 'accountability sinks' where negative feedback is ignored, and discusses the consequences of these systemic failures, including the 2008 financial crisis.

The book is a blend of part-biography and part-political thriller, offering a compelling narrative on the need for better accountability and decision-making processes.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 15 episodes

Recommended by

Alistair Croll

as a book he has literally made an entire conference theme out of this year.

583 snips

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Mentioned by

Rory Sutherland

as a book exploring unaccountability traps in business.

157 snips

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Recommended by

Sebastian Gehrmann

as a recently published book about how organizations fail to build accountability processes.

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Rory Stewart

; explores unaccountability in large systems and how it leads to poor decisions.

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Mentioned by

Joe Weisenthal

as the author of the book discussed in the podcast.

91 snips

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Mentioned by

Rory Sutherland

when talking about acountability

80 snips

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Mentioned by

Patrick McKenzie

Dan Davies

's new book.

58 snips

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Erwähnt von

Alexander Schatten

im Zusammenhang mit der zunehmenden Strukturierung und Standardisierung in Organisationen.

48 snips

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Mentioned by

Rory Sutherland

when discussing the impact of optimization models on human preference and decision-making.

27 snips

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Mentioned by

Martin Reeves

as the author's latest book, examining why companies and governments create unwanted outcomes.

17 snips

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Mentioned by

Rory Stewart

as one of the books he is currently reading, focusing on the complexities of modern societies and accountability.

16 snips

321. Question Time: Why do politicians leak to the press?

Mentioned by

Ben Mathis-Lilley

when discussing how organizations fail by focusing on specific numbers and neglecting other planning.

12 snips

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Mentioned by

Phill Agnew

as the book written by today's guest,

Dan Davies

12 snips

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Mentioned by

Michael Caley

and

Mike Goodman

as the subject of the podcast episode, discussing its ideas on business, capitalism, and European football.

11 snips

The Cybernetics of Football with Dan Davies

Mentioned by

Jacob Shapiro

in relation to his negative view on stable coins.

Stablecoins and the Geopolitics of Trust

Mentioned by

Phil Tinline

when discussing a rules-based system where no one is to blame.

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Mentioned by

Ben Mathis-Lilley

when discussing how organizations fail by focusing on specific numbers.

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Discussed by Jerry and Stably for its exploration of irrational outcomes in large systems.

The Unaccountability Machine by Dan Davies

Mentioned by Stably as a book they are looking forward to discussing in a future episode.

The Art of Happiness by Epicurus

Mentioned by

Ben Catanio

as the title of his book, explaining why big systems make terrible decisions.

Ep. 240: Dan Davies - On "The Unaccountability Machine"

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