McNamara's Errors

McNamara's Errors refer to mistakes made by Robert McNamara, a U.S. Secretary of Defense, during the Vietnam War. He relied heavily on quantitative data and models to guide military decisions, believing these could accurately predict outcomes. However, this approach overlooked the complexity of human behavior and political factors, leading to overconfidence in forecasts and underestimating risks. The errors highlight how reliance on data alone, without considering real-world nuances, can result in flawed policies and unintended consequences.