Checklist Manifesto Flashcards
(56 cards)
What is the core argument of The Checklist Manifesto?
In complex environments, simple checklists help prevent human error and ensure consistency of performance.
Why do experts fail in complex environments?
Not due to lack of knowledge, but because they forget or skip essential steps under pressure.
What are the two main types of failure Gawande identifies?
Ignorance (lack of knowledge) and ineptitude (failure to apply known knowledge correctly).
Why has the problem of ineptitude grown in modern times?
As systems become more complex, it becomes harder to manage all required steps without error.
What industry was an early pioneer of effective checklist use?
Aviation — especially in response to early airplane crashes caused by skipped procedures.
Why are checklists more important as complexity increases?
Complex systems have too many interdependent steps for any one person to reliably remember.
What mental bias can lead experts to resist using checklists?
Overconfidence — believing their skill or experience makes checklists unnecessary.
How does a checklist help with cognitive load?
It externalizes essential steps, freeing mental resources for higher-level judgment and decision-making.
What is the key shift in mindset required to adopt checklists?
Valuing discipline and reliability over pure autonomy or intuition.
How did checklists reduce surgical complications in the WHO study?
They reduced major complications by 36% and deaths by 47% in eight hospitals across varied environments.
Why was a simple surgical checklist so effective?
It ensured basic but critical steps (e.g. confirming patient identity, antibiotic administration, equipment readiness) were not skipped.
How are checklists used in construction?
To manage complex, multi-team projects where interdependencies require coordination and error-prevention across specialties.
What role do submittal schedules play in construction?
They serve as checklists for coordinating material procurement, installation timing, and inspections across trades.
Why is it dangerous to rely solely on individual expertise in complex environments?
No single expert can mentally track all necessary steps and interactions in highly complex systems.
How does aviation use checklists?
Pilots use pre-flight, in-flight, and emergency checklists to ensure critical steps are performed correctly under all conditions.
What is the cultural attitude toward checklists in aviation?
They are fully normalized and respected — checklists are seen as essential for safe, reliable operation regardless of pilot experience.
How can financial professionals use checklists?
To prevent cognitive errors in investment decisions by systematically checking key analysis steps and risk factors.
Why do professionals sometimes resist using checklists?
They perceive them as bureaucratic or beneath their level of expertise, or fear loss of autonomy.
What is one key cultural shift required to implement checklists successfully?
Professionals must embrace humility and discipline — recognizing that even experts benefit from simple reminders.
What are the two types of checklists described in the book?
DO-CONFIRM and READ-DO.
What is a DO-CONFIRM checklist?
A checklist used after performing a set of steps to confirm that nothing was missed.
What is a READ-DO checklist?
A checklist followed step-by-step while performing the task.
Why is brevity important in checklist design?
Long or overly detailed checklists reduce usability and increase the risk of being ignored.
What is the ideal number of items on a checklist?
Typically 5–9 items per section — enough to cover critical items without overwhelming the user.
