Ted Bassett has worked for more than forty years in the global mining and metals industry with projects ranging from an open-pit operation in post-communist Kyrgyzstan to the scandal-racked Bre-X goldmine in Busang, Indonesia. He's witnessed numerous instances of senseless risk-taking and reputation-ruining blunders from project managers who simply weren't prepared enough for the job. Finally, prompted by his family and armed with dozens of case...