Crisis Engineering

WHEN THE SYSTEM BREAKS, WHAT DO YOU DO? You're in the middle of a meltdown. The platform is down, the phones are ringing, the headlines are brutal, and your team is looking to you for answers. The usual playbooks--careful planning, expert consultation, bold strategy--aren't working. In fact, they might be making things worse. What if we told you that this is your moment to lead transformative change? Crisis Engineering is your field guide to leading through the chaos--and coming out stronger. Drawing on decades of experience inside some of the most complex systems in government and industry, Mikey Dickerson, Marina Nitze, and Matthew Weaver of Layer Aleph reveal a powerful, hands-on framework for navigating and transforming high-stakes crises. From the rescue of HealthCare.gov to wildfire response and pandemic logistics, this book offers real-world stories, practical tools, and hard-won insights into how complex systems fail--and how to help them recover. At its core is sensemaking: the invisible, human process that drives understanding, action, and ultimately, change. You'll learn:

How to identify the 5 signals of a real crisis--and use them to create space for lasting reform Why traditional leadership instincts fail under pressure--and what to do instead How to rapidly converge on a shared version of reality in chaotic, high-visibility moments Why crises are not just disasters to survive, but rare opportunities for meaningful transformation Whether you're in tech, government, healthcare, or any other critical system, Crisis Engineering gives you the mindset, tools, and vocabulary to lead with clarity and create lasting change when it matters most.