What's Your Lego? Bent Flyvbjerg on how to get big things done
Sep 19, 2023
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Bent Flyvbjerg, renowned megaproject expert, discusses the surprising factors that determine project success. They explore defining 'big things' and the fascination with major projects. The shared interests of Steve Jobs and Elon Musk in scaling up and the Lego principle of achieving big things are also discussed.
Understanding the political factors and pork-barrel politics that hinder infrastructure projects in America.
Breaking down large projects into manageable building blocks, similar to Lego, for successful completion.
Deep dives
The Failure to Get Big Things Done in America
The podcast discusses the failure of America, particularly New York, to accomplish major infrastructure projects. The guest, Ben Fleurburg, author of the book 'How Big Things Get Done,' explains how politics, the American political system, and pork-barrel politics contribute to inefficiencies in infrastructure projects. He also highlights the importance of understanding the basics of project management and the need for a long-term view in completing big projects. The podcast emphasizes the contrast between the success of private companies like Apple and Tesla and the failure of public projects in America.
The Importance of Building Big from Small
The podcast episode explores the concept of building big from small using Lego as a metaphor. Lego, being a Danish company, has successfully built its products by creating basic building blocks that can be combined in countless ways. This principle of building from small components also applies to successful infrastructure projects, including the Empire State Building. Starting with standardized floor plans and repetitive construction, the Empire State Building was completed within budget and on time. The podcast emphasizes the importance of breaking down big projects into manageable building blocks, or 'Legos,' to achieve success.
The Danish Model of Collaboration and Long-Term Thinking
The podcast mentions the success of Danish companies like Lego and discusses the Danish approach to business and big projects. Denmark has a collaborative culture and emphasizes long-term thinking. Companies in Denmark are often owned by foundations, and profits are reinvested to benefit society. The podcast suggests that small countries like Denmark and the Netherlands have learned to build big by taking the long view and prioritizing collaboration. Additionally, the podcast touches on the contrast between the decaying infrastructure in certain American cities and the efficient completion of large public projects in other countries, like Kazakhstan.
EPISODE 1728: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Bent Flyvbjerg, author of HOW BIG THINGS GET DONE, about the suprising factors that determine the fate of every project, from home renovations to space exploration
Bent Flyvbjerg is the first BT Professor at Oxford University and the VKR Professor at the IT University of Copenhagen, an economist, and “the world’s leading megaproject expert,” according to global accounting network KPMG. He has consulted on over one hundred projects costing $1 billion or more and has been knighted by the Queen of Denmark.
Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children.
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