Book Review – The Checklist Manifesto

The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande is an interesting exploration into the applicability of concepts from aviation into critical fields like surgery, building skyscrapers, and even investing and stock picking.

Atul Gawande, an acclaimed surgeon, writer, and public health researcher, explores the fallible nature of human beings, especially when endowed with huge titles like surgeon, master builder, or even captain in aviation. In an increasingly complex environment, it’s not just the skill and expertise of one individual that decides the outcome.

Industry’s answer to these complexities has been to increase training and super specialization. However, despite all the super specialization, we are still struggling with vast quantities of knowledge, and execution still leaves us with errors.

Complex environments do not necessarily require complex solutions. What they require is an understanding of the human factors involved, and simple solutions like a checklist can work marvelously.

Dr.Gawande has actually tested these theories of checklist usage and team involvement in surgery, as well as other fields like investing, as shown in his discussions with Mr. Pabrai from Pabrai Investments.

There are some interesting anecdotes, from the rock band Van Halen tricking their production team into using a checklist, to critical learnings from aviation, to how the construction of huge skyscrapers requires the skills of multiple disciplines to come together to make a successful building with all its design requirements of strength and flexibility.

Dr.Gawande’s premise is that the responsibility for a successful outcome, whether in investing, surgery, or construction, has to shift from the know-it-all master builder or surgeon to the right inclusion of every member of the team. This would require a huge shift in our understanding of complexities, especially for professionals to realize that it is no longer heroic to be autonomous, as most of us would like to be.

As Dr.Gawande rightly says, there are a few pages that can be borrowed from the history of aviation for managing complexities by utilizing simple steps like procedures, teamwork, and checklists.

Have you already read The Checklist Manifesto? I’d love to hear your thoughts/insights on how checklists have impacted your work or life.

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