{"682130":{"#nid":"682130","#data":{"type":"news","title":"A Summer Read for Supply Chain Learners: \u0027Better\u0027 by Atul Gawande","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn the world of supply chain management, we spend much of our time searching for ways to make things better \u2014 more reliable, more efficient, more resilient. It\u2019s a pursuit that can feel endless because improvement rarely comes from one grand move; instead, it is found in hundreds of small, thoughtful actions over time.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat\u2019s why I\u2019m recommending a summer read that, while not a traditional supply chain book, speaks directly to this spirit of continuous improvement: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Better-Surgeons-Performance-Atul-Gawande\/dp\/0312427654\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBetter \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eby Atul Gawande\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGawande, a practicing surgeon and bestselling author, focuses much of his writing on the challenges of delivering better outcomes in medicine. But as you read \u003Cem\u003EBetter\u003C\/em\u003E, it becomes clear that the insights he shares transcend healthcare. In fact, many of them connect deeply to the work we do in supply chain. Health care, after all, is a complex supply chain in itself \u2014 one that must manage the flow of goods (medicines, equipment) and services (diagnosis, surgery, therapy) under conditions of great uncertainty and high stakes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGawande\u2019s work reminds us that the principles that drive improvement in medicine are the same ones that drive improvement in supply chains, manufacturing, transportation, and just about every field where people are trying to do things better every day.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThree Takeaways for Supply Chain Professionals\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E1. The Relentless Pursuit of Better is Everyone\u2019s Job\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EOne of Gawande\u2019s central points is that better performance is not reserved for \u201cgeniuses\u201d or \u201cexperts\u201d alone. In medicine, small, consistent improvements \u2014 asking an extra question, double-checking a dosage, washing hands properly \u2014 save lives. The same is true in supply chain.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn our world, whether it\u2019s taking a second look at an inventory replenishment setting or spending a few extra minutes mapping supplier risks, the incremental pursuit of better outcomes can mean the difference between success and failure. There\u2019s no standing still. \u003Cem\u003EBetter\u003C\/em\u003E is a moving target, and everyone on the team has a role in aiming for it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E2. Systems Matter as Much as Skill\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EGawande makes a strong case that even the most skilled individuals can fail if the systems around them are poorly designed. A world-class surgeon operating in a broken hospital supply chain still faces high risks of failure.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESupply chains work the same way. Even great people can\u2019t overcome a bad process or poor system design for long. When we evaluate our operations, it\u2019s important to look beyond individual performance and address the structural barriers that prevent consistent execution. Strong systems allow talent to flourish; weak systems exhaust it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E3. Always Ask One More Question\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EOne of my favorite insights from \u003Cem\u003EBetter\u003C\/em\u003E is the idea that sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is simply ask one more question.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGawande shares examples where small moments of curiosity or concern \u2014 asking a patient one more question about their symptoms, or a nurse asking why a process was skipped \u2014 led to major improvements or saved lives.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn supply chain, asking one more question can reveal unseen risks, highlight hidden opportunities, and help avoid costly mistakes. When considering a new supplier, a logistics routing change, or a forecasting adjustment, taking the time to dig a little deeper often makes the difference between a smooth operation and a big problem.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs supply chain learners and leaders, developing the habit of curiosity \u2014 and the courage to ask that extra question \u2014 is one of the simplest and most powerful habits we can cultivate.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EWhy \u003Cem\u003EBetter \u003C\/em\u003Eis a Worthwhile Summer Read\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EWhat makes \u003Cem\u003EBetter \u003C\/em\u003Ea great summer read is not just the quality of Gawande\u2019s storytelling, but how accessible and applicable his lessons are. You don\u2019t have to be a doctor to appreciate the challenges he describes, and you don\u2019t have to be in a hospital to face similar decisions about quality, safety, and improvement.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESupply chains, like healthcare systems, are messy, imperfect, and always evolving. Gawande\u2019s stories are a reminder that we improve not by finding perfect solutions, but by persistently chasing better ones \u2014 day after day, decision after decision.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you\u2019re looking for a book that will inspire you to think a little differently about your work, challenge you to ask better questions, and recharge your commitment to doing things better \u2014 \u003Cem\u003EBetter \u003C\/em\u003Eis a worthy addition to your summer reading list.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI hope you\u2019ll find it as insightful and motivating as I did. And as you turn its pages, I encourage you to keep a simple question in mind: What\u2019s one thing I could do a little better today?\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn supply chain management, continuous improvement is achieved through numerous small, thoughtful actions, making \u003Cem\u003EBetter\u003C\/em\u003E by Atul Gawande a recommended summer read for its insights on this relentless pursuit.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"In supply chain management, continuous improvement is achieved through numerous small, thoughtful actions, making \u0022Better\u0022 by Atul Gawande a recommended summer read for its insights on this relentless pursuit."}],"uid":"27233","created_gmt":"2025-04-30 15:17:36","changed_gmt":"2025-08-22 21:04:53","author":"Andy Haleblian","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-04-30T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-04-30T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677002":{"id":"677002","type":"image","title":"A Summer Read for Supply Chain Learners: \u0027Better\u0027 by Atul Gawande","body":null,"created":"1746027080","gmt_created":"2025-04-30 15:31:20","changed":"1746027146","gmt_changed":"2025-04-30 15:32:26","alt":"A Summer Read for Supply Chain Learners: \u0027Better\u0027 by Atul Gawande","file":{"fid":"260860","name":"SummerRead-BetterAtulGawande.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/30\/SummerRead-BetterAtulGawande.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/30\/SummerRead-BetterAtulGawande.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1758399,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/04\/30\/SummerRead-BetterAtulGawande.png?itok=8Gh6QYsZ"}},"674087":{"id":"674087","type":"image","title":"Chris Gaffney","body":"\u003Cp\u003EChris Gaffney\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1717067903","gmt_created":"2024-05-30 11:18:23","changed":"1771883375","gmt_changed":"2026-02-23 21:49:35","alt":"Chris Gaffney, Managing Director, Georgia Tech Supply Chain and Logistics Institute","file":{"fid":"257557","name":"chris-gaffney_scl.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/05\/30\/chris-gaffney_scl.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/05\/30\/chris-gaffney_scl.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":129544,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/05\/30\/chris-gaffney_scl.jpg?itok=_M0fOBTF"}}},"media_ids":["677002","674087"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.scl.gatech.edu\/news-events\/newsletters","title":"View past SCL newsletters and join our mailing list"}],"groups":[{"id":"1243","name":"The Supply Chain and Logistics Institute (SCL)"}],"categories":[{"id":"139","name":"Business"}],"keywords":[{"id":"194489","name":"scl-spot"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39461","name":"Manufacturing, Trade, and Logistics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003Einfo@scl.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}