Explore topics such as tuberculosis resistance, the power of premortums in decision-making, the Museum of Failure, creating a market for R&D failures, the impact of failure on individuals, and wrap-up reflections on failure
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Quick takeaways
Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly prevalent and deadly infectious disease, requiring more attention and funding to combat its impact on developing countries.
The concept of a premortem, imagining a project's failure, fosters a culture of innovation and helps identify potential issues in decision-making.
Deep dives
TB: The Deadliest Infectious Disease
Tuberculosis (TB) has been the leading infectious disease killer in the world for the past few decades, taking the lives of approximately 1.5 million people annually. Despite its prevalence, TB receives less attention and funding compared to other diseases. Babak Javed, a physician scientist, studies TB and highlights the social injustice and impact it has on developing countries. While a vaccine and antibiotics exist for TB, treatment can be complex and lengthy. Javed's research focuses on the concept of adaptive mistranslation, where mistakes made during protein synthesis in TB bacteria can actually make them more resilient and innovative.
The Power of Premortem
Gary Klein introduced the concept of a premortem, a strategy to anticipate potential failures and threats early on to improve decision-making and increase chances of success. By imagining a future where a project has failed, individuals and teams can identify and address potential issues and pitfalls that may have been overlooked. This technique fosters a culture of candor and allows for the harvesting of different perspectives, supporting the generation of innovative ideas and informed decision-making.
Failure as a Teacher
Will Coleman, CEO of ride share startup Alto, shares his perspective on failure in the business world. While failure is often viewed negatively and something to be avoided, Coleman believes that the fear of failure can hinder progress and innovation. He emphasizes the importance of accepting failure and learning from it, highlighting that failure is a common outcome for startups. Embracing failure allows for resilience, adaptability, and the opportunity to pivot and improve.
Failure 101: Embracing Failure in Education
Theresa McPhail, an anthropologist and professor, teaches a course called Failure 101, where she encourages students to embrace failure as a necessary part of life and a crucial component of personal growth. The course challenges societal narratives and cultural perceptions that failure is negative, teaching students that failure is subjective and a social construct. By understanding and accepting failure, students gain resilience, freedom from fear, and a new perspective on personal accomplishments and setbacks.