Dr. Gary Klein, a renowned author and researcher in decision-making, shares his insights gathered from decades of study across various sectors, including military and emergency response. He discusses innovative techniques like the pre-mortem method to enhance decision-making under pressure. Klein recounts fascinating lessons learned from firefighters, emphasizing intuition over analysis. He highlights the importance of communication and mentorship in refining tactical skills, and explores how embracing failure can turn setbacks into valuable learning opportunities.
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Origin of Dr. Klein's Research
Dr. Klein's decision-making research began in the mid-1980s with an Army request.
The research focused on understanding real-world decisions under pressure, leading to the study of firefighters.
insights INSIGHT
Recognition-Primed Decision Making
People often misunderstand how they make decisions, believing in a rational model.
Research with firefighters showed that they relied on experience and pattern matching.
insights INSIGHT
RPD Model
The Recognition-Primed Decision (RPD) model combines intuitive pattern matching with mental simulation.
Mental simulation helps evaluate potential courses of action by imagining them.
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Gary Klein's "Sources of Power" explores how people make decisions in complex, real-world situations. It challenges traditional models of decision-making, emphasizing the importance of experience, intuition, and mental simulation. The book highlights the Recognition-Primed Decision (RPD) model, which describes how experts quickly recognize patterns and make effective decisions under pressure. Klein's research draws on observations of firefighters, military commanders, and other professionals, demonstrating how expertise is developed and applied in high-stakes environments. The book offers valuable insights for anyone seeking to improve their decision-making skills.
Sources of power
Gary Klein
Gary Klein's "Sources of Power" explores how people make decisions in complex, real-world situations. It challenges traditional models of decision-making, emphasizing the importance of experience, intuition, and mental simulation. The book highlights the Recognition-Primed Decision (RPD) model, which describes how experts quickly recognize patterns and make effective decisions under pressure. Klein's research draws on observations of firefighters, military commanders, and other professionals, demonstrating how expertise is developed and applied in high-stakes environments. The book offers valuable insights for anyone seeking to improve their decision-making skills.
My guest today is a true legend in the field of decision making, Dr. Gary Klein. Gary is the author of the book Sources of Power: How People Make Decisions, and five other books. His work includes groundbreaking research into the cognitive models we use for decision making including the Recognition-Primed Decision (RPD) model, the Data/Frame model of sensemaking, the Management By Discovery model of planning in complex settings, and the Triple Path Model of Insight. He has developed methods including the Pre-Mortem method of risk assessment, techniques for Cognitive Task Analysis, the ShadowBox training approach, and also helped pioneer the Naturalistic Decision-Making movement in 1989. Dr. Klein has decades of work experience in dozens of work domains, including military, healthcare, and emergency response. I am excited to have Gary on the show because his work with military and emergency response work provides a great framework for us to not only understand our decision making but also how to improve it through training and simulation.
The Debrief with Jon Becker 
