We Americans are in love with analysis. We think that by its use we are going to avoid uncertainty. We think we are going to find some magic, patented approach to new design solutions through the use of analysis.
French engineers pointed this out to me. They said, “You Americans are mad. You analyze and analyze where we have one-man who makes a decision, and the difference is 5 percent in the resulting answers.”
That was Albert Shapero testifying to Congress in 1975.
“Major Systems Acquisition Reform.” Hearings, 94 Congress, 1st Session, Part 2, June 16, 1975, pp. 402.
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