The Unaccountability Machine (Hardback)
Why Big Systems Make Terrible Decisions - and How The World Lost its Mind
Buy from
Part-biography, part-political thriller, The Unaccountability Machine is a rousing exposé of how management failures lead organisations to make catastrophic errors
'Entertaining, insightful ... compelling' Financial Times
'Clear and compelling ... it will make you look at the world differently' Stephen Bush
When we avoid taking a decision, what happens to it? In The Unaccountability Machine, Dan Davies examines why markets, institutions and even governments systematically generate outcomes that everyone involved claims not to want. He casts new light on the writing of Stafford Beer, a legendary economist who argued in the 1950s that we should regard organisations as artificial intelligences, capable of taking decisions that are distinct from the intentions of their members.
Management cybernetics was Beer's science of applying self-regulation in organisational settings, but it was largely ignored - with the result being the political and economic crises that that we see today. With his signature blend of cynicism and journalistic rigour, Davies looks at what's gone wrong, and what might have been, had the world listened to Stafford Beer when it had the chance.
The Unaccountability Machine (Ebook)
Why Big Systems Make Terrible Decisions - and How The World Lost its Mind
Buy from
Part-biography, part-political thriller, The Unaccountability Machine is a rousing exposé of how management failures lead organisations to make catastrophic errors
'Entertaining, insightful ... compelling' Financial Times
'Clear and compelling ... it will make you look at the world differently' Stephen Bush
When we avoid taking a decision, what happens to it? In The Unaccountability Machine, Dan Davies examines why markets, institutions and even governments systematically generate outcomes that everyone involved claims not to want. He casts new light on the writing of Stafford Beer, a legendary economist who argued in the 1950s that we should regard organisations as artificial intelligences, capable of taking decisions that are distinct from the intentions of their members.
Management cybernetics was Beer's science of applying self-regulation in organisational settings, but it was largely ignored - with the result being the political and economic crises that that we see today. With his signature blend of cynicism and journalistic rigour, Davies looks at what's gone wrong, and what might have been, had the world listened to Stafford Beer when it had the chance.
The Unaccountability Machine (Audiobook)
Why Big Systems Make Terrible Decisions - and How The World Lost its Mind
Buy from
Part-biography, part-political thriller, The Unaccountability Machine is a rousing exposé of how management failures lead organisations to make catastrophic errors
'Entertaining, insightful … compelling' Financial Times
'Clear and compelling … it will make you look at the world differently' Stephen Bush
When we avoid taking a decision, what happens to it? In The Unaccountability Machine, Dan Davies examines why markets, institutions and even governments systematically generate outcomes that everyone involved claims not to want. He casts new light on the writing of Stafford Beer, a legendary economist who argued in the 1950s that we should regard organisations as artificial intelligences, capable of taking decisions that are distinct from the intentions of their members.
Management cybernetics was Beer's science of applying self-regulation in organisational settings, but it was largely ignored – with the result being the political and economic crises that that we see today. With his signature blend of cynicism and journalistic rigour, Davies looks at what's gone wrong, and what might have been, had the world listened to Stafford Beer when it had the chance.
Reviews for The Unaccountability Machine
Stephen Bush
Ed Smith New Statesman
The Critic
Francis Spufford Guardian, 'Books for a Better World'
Brian Eno
Rory Sutherland Spectator
Felix Martin Financial Times
Tim Harford, author The Undercover Economist
Spear's Magazine
Patrick Alley, author Very Bad People
Tim Harford Financial Times
Laleh Khalili, author Sinews of War and Trade
Tim O'Reilly, author WTF: What's the Future and Why It's Up to Us
Francis Spufford, author Cahokia Jazz
Diane Coyle, Bennett Professor of Public Policy at the University of Cambridge
J. Bradford DeLong
Praise for Lying for Money:
Dan Davies tells all these stories with verve and wit ... Much of the book is a romp through the crimes of scoundrels - Ponzi, Madoff, Keating, the Krays ... Yet what takes it from absorbing to excellent is the author's insight. Read Lying for Money and you will look at fraud in a whole new way. Actually, you will look at every market transaction you take part in in a whole new way
'
The Times
Ann Pettifor TLS
Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author The Incognito
John Kay, author Other People's Money
Dani Rodrik, author of Economics Rules and The Globalisation Paradox
J. Bradford DeLong, author of The End of Influence
Joe Weisenthal, presenter of Bloomberg’s What'd You Miss?
Fascinating, gripping - and true ... This is a terrific read
'
Diane Coyle, author of Sex Drugs and Economics
Daniel Davies
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