How BIG Things Get Done, with Dr. Bent Flyvberg

#429: Have you ever thought about remodeling a kitchen? Retrofitting a camper van for #vanlife? Converting your basement into an Airbnb? Building a custom website? Recording an album?

Did you worry that this project will cost more and take longer than you expected? 

This episode is all about how to complete projects on-time and under budget. 

Today's guest, Dr. Bent Flyvberg, is an Oxford University professor with a Ph.D. in urban geography. He’s published more than 200 scholarly articles on megaproject planning and management, decision-making, and social science methodology. He’s written or edited 10 books, including recently co-authoring “How Big Things Get Done.”

He shares examples ranging from the Sydney Opera House to Pixar movies to the California High Speed Rail, illustrating why some projects flourished while others flopped.

He joins us on today’s episode and talks to us about why some projects succeed while others turn into colossal disasters. He offers tips for how we can apply lessons from megaprojects to our own lives.

Enjoy!

Timing of discussion points as of February 2023:

02:19: Why are some projects on time and under budget and others aren’t?

03:24: The difference between successful and unsuccessful projects

07:38: Which questions do you ask when you’re choosing someone to work with on the project?

11:44: How cognitive biases and power dynamics and influence project outcomes

24:22: Why people forsake common sense when it comes to big projects

29:34: How to plan and iterate, knowing that things will change

39:26: The biggest risk to projects

For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode429

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