Learning from Disasters

This compelling book offers an important insight into the way organizations implement policies and procedures to prevent future disasters occurring. The third edition includes an introductory chapter which demonstrates on a theoretical and practical level a number of reasons why individuals and groups of people fail to learn from disasters in the first place. Based on thorough research, Learning from Disasters is essential reading for all those involved in risk management, disaster planning and security and safety management.

Table of Contents:
Risk Perception and Decision-making The Management of Risk Disasters as Systems Failures Methodology Generation of Hindsight General Organisational Learning Specific Organisational Learning Case Studies Discussion and Conclusions

About the Author :
BRIAN TOFT is Research Director in the Risk Consulting Practice of Marsh Ltd. He is also a Visiting Professor of Risk Management at the School of Science and the Environment at Coventry University, UK, and an Honorary Visiting Fellow in Risk Management at the University of Southampton, UK. SIMON REYNOLDS worked for several years in the power engineering industry. He subsequently became a news editor, specializing in online political and macro-economic news. He now works freelance and regularly contributes to magazines and newsletters.

Review :
'This book should be compulsory reading, not just for MBA students and risk managers, but for anyone in a position of responsibility in every type of organisation.' - Steve Fowler, FIRM, Chief Executive, Institute of Risk Management 'While the authors examine the Public Enquiry concept they do offer an alternative in the form of a Systems Failure and Cultural Readjustment Model (SFCRM)... that it is an interesting model and very worthy of consideration. For those seeking to manage the potential of a disaster situation then this book provides valuable information and is thought provoking. It is an invaluable tool for those researching or studying the subject of learning as it is extremely well researched and comes with authority through its authors'. - Mike Welham, Member of the FIIRSM Board of Governers, FIOSH, MEWI 'This book provides a cogent and clear account of how disasters do not just happen - they are the product of organizational processes and systems which are designed to fail. With hindsight, they are almost always preventable events, but we do far too little to analyze and learn from such circumstances. This book offers an important perspective on how disasters and crises can be important learning opportunities for all organisation.' - Professor Kieran Walshe, Director of the Centre for Public Policy and Management, and Professor of Health Policy and Management at Manchester Business School, UK 'Such is its scope and comprehensiveness that there is much in it that applies to medical practice and the safe running of hospitals...The authors set out an illuminatingly simple analysis and description of the underlying concepts of risk management, using examples from areas as diverse as space exploration and medical practice. So if you do come across this book...have a look at it, think about it briefly, and then buy it.' - Julian Woolfson FRCOG, The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist