Natural disaster. Virulent disease. Terrorist attack. In almost an instant, the safe world you have known is turned upside down. Such catastrophic events are not restricted to the movies. They are becoming true-life headlines around the world.

Business runs on decisions. Business relies on estimates, plans, and projections - and we all know how accurate they tend to be. Careers are made, careers are broken based on perceived accuracy in estimation and planning. But what if the successes and failures of these projects were not based on the prowess of those making the plans? What if successes and failures were instead the result of a more complex set of events? What if our own cognitive biases - our own brains - were creating our inaccuracies, our poor assumptions, and our unreasonable expectations? Why Plans Fail directly addresses our ability to plan, to forecast, and to make decisions. Written by Jim Benson, author of the Shingo Research Award-winning Personal Kanban, urban planner, software developer, and business owner who has planned and built everything from small software projects, to houses, to urban freeway systems, Why Plans Fail is told by someone with much skin in the estimation and planning game. This short work is the first in the Modus Cooperandi MemeMachine series - which looks specifically at underlying issues that directly impact the success of teams, companies, and individuals. The Mememachine series is meant to start conversations and advance discussion.

The establishment of the Communist social model in one part of Germany was a result of international postwar developments, of the Cold War waged by East and West, and of the resultant partition of Germany. As the author argues, the GDR's 'new' society was deliberately conceived as a counter-model to the liberal and marketregulated system. Although the hopes connected with this alternative system turned out to be misplaced and the planned economy may be thoroughly discredited today, it is important to understand the context in which it developed and failed. This study, a bestseller in its German version, offers an in-depth exploration of the GDR economy's starting conditions and the obstacles to growth it confronted during the consolidation phase. These factors, however, were not decisive in the GDR's lack of growth compared to that of the Federal Republic. As this study convincingly shows, it was the economic model that led to failure.

The World’s Most Influential Book on Personal Success The bestselling classic that made Systems Over Goals, Talent Stacking, and Passion Is Overrated universal success advice has been reborn. Once in a generation, a book revolutionizes its category and becomes the preeminent reference that all subsequent books on the topic must pay homage to, in name or in spirit. How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big by Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert, is such a book for the field of personal success. A contrarian pundit and persuasion expert in a class of his own, Adams has reached hundreds of millions directly and indirectly through the 2013 first edition’s straightforward yet counterintuitive advice—to invite failure in, embrace it, then pick its pocket. The second edition of How to Fail is a tighter, updated version, by popular demand. Yet new and returning readers alike will find the same candor, humor, and timeless wisdom on productivity, career growth, health and fitness, and entrepreneurial success as the original classic. How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big, Second Edition is the essential read (or re-read) for anyone who wants to find a unique path to personal victory—and make luck find you in whatever you do.

Natural disaster. Virulent disease. Terrorist attack. In almost an instant, the safe world you have known is turned upside down. Such catastrophic events are not restricted to the movies. They are becoming true-life headlines around the world. Disaster Expert Dr. Paul Williams explains what you need to know and do to be prepared for the worst with hope. Drawing on 30 years' medical missions experience in more than 100 countries, he helps you learn how to be an anchor in the storm-for your family, with your church, and in your community.There is no hype, no fear. Just a clear-headed assessment of what can go wrong, and what you need to do to face everyday emergencies with confidence and faith. With detailed checklists and step-by-step advice, this book will show you how to live in the now, but prepare for the future.

Careful strategic planning is paramount for organizations seeking to establish themselves in our dynamic economy. Still, even the best thought-out strategic plan will falter if employee buy-in is not supported and a thoroughly considered implementation process is not put into effect. This book casts light on these dark corners of entrepreneurship and share with you the kind of knowledge that can save you a lot of time and frustration. But most importantly, it can save you from failing in your venture. A thoroughly prepared strategic plan is vital for reaching objectives and goals; any business depends on careful planning to be successful. Regrettably though, many individuals, groups and organizations, fall short when it comes to executing their plans. The outcome can be wasted time, cash and various missed opportunities. If a strategic plan is to be successfully implemented, one must count for a number of interrelated factors. We will address the most crucial of these in the following chapters of this book. Creative awareness of the pitfalls of strategic planning will help to circumvent organizational failure.

Organizations often fail to reach their potential growth. The book identifies the hidden dilemmas and pitfalls of strategic planning. It creates awareness of the planning traps, so companies can create a breakout strategy. This is not another theoretical book. It is written for the Board, CEO and Executives who are responsible for creating the company's future.It is a hands-on book reflecting the practical insights of the author's own experiences conducting strategic planning. It includes process guidelines along with an organizational assessment tool to identify areas that an organization needs to work on to create strategic success. The book emphasizes participative planning, awareness building, reality checks, innovation, differentiation, tactical testing, execution, change management, perfomance planning and strategic controls. Above all the book will enable your firm to come to grips with its organizational capability, enabling it to identify new opportunities for a breakout strategy.