Successful engineering is all about understanding how things break or fail. Henry Petroski breakengineerfail Change image and share on social
Although engineers want always to make everything better, they cannot make anything perfect. This basic characteristic flaw of the products of the profession's practitioners is what drives change and makes achievement a process rather than simply a goal. Henry Petroski achievementbasicchange share on social
No design, no matter how common or seemingly insignificant, is without its adamant critics as well as its ardent admirers. Henry Petroski adamantadmirerardent Change image and share on social
I employ case studies of failure into my courses, emphasizing that they teach us much more than studies of success. It is not that success stories cannot serve as models of good design or as exemplars of creative engineering. They can do that, but they cannot teach us how close to failure they are. Henry Petroski caseclosecourse share on social
I relax by looking at things and reading about things. Even the simplest thing can reveal a great deal about the world around us. It relaxes me greatly to sit back with my feet up and look around my study at the everyday things that surround me. Henry Petroski backdealeveryday share on social
The definition of 'safe' is not strictly an engineering term; it's a societal term. Does it mean absolutely no loss of life? Does it mean absolutely no contamination with radiation? What exactly does 'safe' mean? Henry Petroski absolutelycontaminationdefinition share on social
Too much redesign has to do more with fad and fashion than with fitness and function. It is change for the sake of change. Such redesign is not only unnecessary, it is all too often also retrogressive, leading to things that work less effectively than those they were designed to replace. Henry Petroski changedesigneffectively share on social
It is really want, rather than need, that drives the process of technological evolution. Henry Petroski driveevolutionprocess Change image and share on social
Betting on the success of innovative technologies in the marketplace can carry all the uncertainty and risk that betting on the next card in the deck does at a blackjack table in Las Vegas. There is a factor of randomness that must be factored in, but precisely how to do so is anyone's guess. Henry Petroski betblackjackcard share on social