The tendency of a group of experts to reinforce one another's conviction that they are doing everything right, the tendency to let pressure to confirm conform suppress self-criticism within the group - this is what Iring Janis identified as the great danger of "groupthink" in terms of political decision makers such as Kennedy's advisers before the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion ...
They did, of course, ignore the safety rules. But in doing so they did not neglect anything or do anything accidentally. Rather they were of the opinion that the safety rules were designed much too narrowly for an experienced team. This conviction is not limited exclusively to the operators of atomic reactors. Any factory worker who cuts corners, every automobile driver who spurns a seat belt suffers from the same flattering delusion.
- The Logic of Failure
They did, of course, ignore the safety rules. But in doing so they did not neglect anything or do anything accidentally. Rather they were of the opinion that the safety rules were designed much too narrowly for an experienced team. This conviction is not limited exclusively to the operators of atomic reactors. Any factory worker who cuts corners, every automobile driver who spurns a seat belt suffers from the same flattering delusion.
- The Logic of Failure
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