No one likes to make mistakes. But a new study says organizations learn more from their failures than their successes, and keep that knowledge longer.
任何人都不愿意犯错， 但是一项新研究表明，组织机构从失败中学到的经验比从成功中学到的更多，而且保持时间更为长久。
One of the researchers was Vinit Desai, an assistant professor at the University of Colorado Denver Business School. He worked with Peter Madsen from the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University in Utah.
科罗拉多大学丹佛商学院（University of Colorado Denver Business School）的助理教授维尼特·德赛（Vinit Desai）是研究者之一， 与他合作研究的是来自犹他州杨百翰大学（Brigham Young University）麦里特商学院（Marriott School of Management）的彼得·马德森（Peter Madsen）。
They did not find much long-term "organizational learning" from success. It is possible, they say. But Professor Desai says they found that knowledge gained from failure lasts for years.
他们没有发现太多从成功中学到的长期“系统经验”。 他们称这是有可能的， 但是德赛教授称他们发现从失败获取的经验能持续多年。
He says organizations should treat failures as a learning opportunity and not try to ignore them.
他称组织机构应该把失败视作一次学习机会而不是试图忽略它。
The study looked at companies and organizations that launch satellites and other space vehicles. Professor Desai compared two shuttle flights.
该研究把目标放在了发射卫星和其他航天器的公司和机构上， 德赛教授比较了两次航天飞机发射。
In two thousand two, a piece of insulating material broke off during launch and damaged a rocket on the Atlantis. Still, the flight was considered a success.
2002年，“亚特兰蒂斯”号航天飞机在发射过程中一片绝缘材料脱落，火箭助推器受损， 但仍然被视为发射成功。
Then, in early two thousand three, a piece of insulation struck the Columbia during launch. This time, the shuttle broke apart on re-entry and the seven crew members died. NASA officials suspended all flights and an investigation led to suggested changes.
随后，2003年初“哥伦比亚”号航天飞机在发射过程中一片绝缘材料击中了飞机， 这一次，航天飞机在重返大气层时解体，造成7名宇航员遇难。 美国国家宇航局（NASA）官员叫停了所有航天飞机发射，随后展开调查并做出整改。
Professor Desai says the search for solutions after a failure can make leaders more open-minded. He points to airlines as an example of an industry that has learned from failures in the past.
德赛教授称在失败后寻求解决方法会使领导者思维更开阔， 他指出航空业就是一个从过去的失败中吸取经验教训的例子。
He advises organizations to look for useful information in small failures and failures they avoided. He also urges leaders to encourage the open sharing of information. The study appeared in the Academy of Management Journal.
他建议组织机构从小的失败，以及他们避免了的失败中寻找有用信息， 同时主张领导者应该鼓励信息共享。 该研究论文发表在管理学学术期刊上（Academy of Management Journal）。
The mistakes we learn from do not have to be our own. We recently asked people on our Facebook page to tell us a time they had done something really silly.
我们也可以从别人的失误中吸取经验教训。 最近我们在Facebook上发动网友讲述他们做过的愚蠢的事情。
Fabricio Cimino wrote: Not long ago I wanted to watch TV, but it wouldn't turn on, so I did everything I could to start it. Thirty minutes later my mum shows up and, passing by, says to me "Did you try plugging it?" I was like "I'm just dusting, Mum!" so she wouldn't notice how dumb I am sometimes!
Fabricio Cimino写道：不久前我想看电视，但我用尽一切办法也无法打开它。 30分钟后我妈妈出现了，她经过我身边时对我说“你插电源了吗？” 我对她说“我只是在打扫灰尘”，这样他就不会意识到我有时候多傻。
Bruno Kanieski da Silva told about a time he looked everywhere for his key. It was in his pocket. He wrote: I always promise I will never do it again, but after a few weeks ... where is my wallet? For sure it will be in a very logical place.
Bruno Kanieski da Silva讲的是有一次他翻遍了所有地方找钥匙， 结果钥匙就在他的兜里。 他写道：我常常发誓说再也不犯这种错误了，但是几周后……我的钱包哪去了？ 当然它在它该在的地方。
