Insights from ‘The Checklist Manifesto’ by Atul Gawande Flashcards
What problem does Atul Gawande identify with modern professional tasks?
The complexity and volume of information exceed individual ability to perform tasks safely, reliably, or correctly.
Fill in the blank: Gawande suggests that even experienced professionals can fail due to flaws in ____ and _____.
memory and attention
True or False: Checklists are only useful in medical settings.
False
How do checklists impact major complications and deaths in surgery?
They reduce major complications by 36% and deaths by 47%.
Why do some professionals resist using checklists?
They feel checklists are beneath them and counter to the idea of improvisation in complex situations.
Give one example of an industry that benefits from checklist usage and describe the benefit.
Construction: Using checklists on-site helps keep building failure rates to only 0.00002%.
What advantage do venture capitalists who use checklists have over those who do not?
They experience 45% larger returns and are 40% less likely to fire senior management for incompetence.
What is a ‘pause point’ in checklist usage?
A trigger, such as a location or action, that reminds you to complete the checklist.
How long should a checklist take to complete according to Dan Boorman?
Less than 60 seconds.
Why is it important for checklist items to be short and concise?
They are reminders for trained routines, not detailed how-to guides.
Why must checklists be field-tested and revised?
To ensure they are practical, based on real experience, and updated with the latest lessons learned.
True or False: Reading a checklist without physically checking off items can be just as effective.
False
Fill in the blank: The deliberate act of going through and ____ each item on a checklist makes it effective.
checking off
How does using a checklist benefit performance, according to Gawande?
It instills discipline and enhances performance.
What is a ‘killer’ item on a checklist?
An item that, if missed, implies poor quality or negatively affects others.
