When the Sky Falls

In this essential guide for engineering leaders, Rands provides a meticulously structured approach to managing complex organizational disasters, emphasizing the critical importance of comprehensive information gathering before taking action. The article outlines a four-step process that transforms crisis management from reactive panic to strategic problem-solving, with a core focus on understanding the precise organizational objective behind addressing the catastrophe. By introducing concepts like the "Directly Responsible Individual" and the importance of constant communication, the piece offers a pragmatic framework for leaders to methodically prop up the metaphorical falling sky while maintaining strategic clarity.