Michael K. Bohn

“through phase draws accusations of wavering and weakness. Critics who shout, “Do something!” usually haven’t a clue that every forceful action in the crisis du jour can have untoward consequences. Muddling reflects the reality of crisis decision making, but it doesn’t readily fit popular perceptions of leadership, especially when magnified”
― Michael K. Bohn, Presidents in Crisis: Tough Decisions inside the White House from Truman to Obama

“President Truman’s crisis management errors have become textbook examples of “groupthink,” a term coined by Yale research psychologist Irving Janis. The expression has worked its way into the lexicon of crisis analysis because the dynamic has also challenged presidents who followed Truman. Janis defined the malady as “the psychological drive for consensus at any cost that suppresses disagreement and prevents the appraisal of alternatives in cohesive decision-making groups.”
― Michael K. Bohn, Presidents in Crisis: Tough Decisions inside the White House from Truman to Obama