New Books in Science, Technology, and Society Dan Davies, "The Unaccountability Machine: Why Big Systems Make Terrible Decisions—and How the World Lost Its Mind" (U of Chicago Press, 2025)
Aug 30, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Dan Davies, an economist and author, delves into his book on how big systems, free from accountability, lead to disastrous decision-making. He highlights three revolutions that reshaped organizational accountability, revealing a shift from individual responsibility to systemic failures. Davies connects cognitive science with organizational behavior, emphasizing the complexities of modern management. The conversation also touches on artificial intelligence's growing role and the urgent need for transparency in corporate governance.
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Purpose Defines Relevant Information
- Information is not raw bits but contextual 'variety' defined by a system's purpose.
- The purpose of a system is what stable behaviors it reliably reproduces.
Complexity Outpaces Management
- Complexity grows faster than management capacity, forcing organizational redesigns.
- Delegation reduces the variety top managers must process and restores manageability.
Getty's Hands-On Control
- Dan Davies recounts John Paul Getty personally managing Getty Oil's operations and reading every rig's report.
- That individual-led model became impossible as firms scaled into modern corporations.
