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Terminal velocity

This appears, at least to an uninformed observer, that there is an upper limit to system complexity that is comprehendible or understandable in large scale projects. In this instance, it may have been sensible to scenario plan and run multiple risk scenarios with detailed input from people who are actually involved in relevant functions. A couple of dry runs/practices would also have been sensible. It really is a tad optimistic to expect everything to run smoothly on day one without a shakedown run or two. It also seems symptomatic of an age of centralisation, where bigger is better and we chase elusive economies of scale. It may have been intelligent to build Terminal 5 following a distributed model rather than a centralised one. Rugby would have been an ideal location as you would be able to hop off the plane and jump onto a train and be in the centre of London quicker than from Heathrow. In conclusion, if we were realistic about large scale projects we would never start them. Fortunately, most people are blindly optimistic and believe that somehow it will all work out in the end. It generally does, give it six months and everyone will have forgotten about this fiasco.

2 Apr 2008

11:14 pm