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Experiment more often and more cheaply

“The next big opportunity never looks that way at the outset. Big opportunities grow out of successive rounds of experimentation.”

To evolve more rapidly, organizations must experiment more frequently. Management processes that seek to arrive at the “one best strategy” through top-down, analytical methods must give way to models based on the biological principles of variety (generate lots of options), selection (find low-cost ways to test critical assumptions), and retention (ramp up spending once a strategy has started to gain traction). In the future, top management won’t “make” strategy but will create an environment in which there is lots of fast-paced, strategic experimentation.

42 Stories
62 Hacks
5 Barriers

Experiment more often and more cheaply

“The next big opportunity never looks that way at the outset. Big opportunities grow out of successive rounds of experimentation.”

To evolve more rapidly, organizations must experiment more frequently. Management processes that seek to arrive at the “one best strategy” through top-down, analytical methods must give way to models based on the biological principles of variety (generate lots of options), selection (find low-cost ways to test critical assumptions), and retention (ramp up spending once a strategy has started to gain traction). In the future, top management won’t “make” strategy but will create an environment in which there is lots of fast-paced, strategic experimentation.

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The process for resource allocation in too many organizations is highly centralized, creating a monopsony for new ideas within an organization, and favoring investment in projects that represent incre
Barrier by Gary Hamel on April 8, 2010
Real innovation is not built with greater isolation and introspection but is powered by smarter connections.
Hack by Andrew Armour on April 12, 2011
Several years ago, Company X moved away from having part-time employees in their operations and customer support departments.
Story by Josh Harrington on September 19, 2010
Whirlpool Corporation recently added the “bow” to the rock-solid and deeply embedded Double Diamond process which focuses on discovery and development of new opportunities in the front end.
Story by Moisés Noreña on August 7, 2011
The organisational mantra of up-or-out is, in fact, out. Organiations need to develop a new way of recognising performance, and increase the skill-to-position match.
Hack by Group 14 on November 6, 2011
A collaborative business planning and execution approach holds the promise of increasing the success rates for achieving corporate goals.
Hack by Matt Johnson on April 29, 2012
Atmospheric visualization opens the mind and broadens the perspective by employing sketches which are made during the meeting or workshop.
Hack by Erwin Pfuhler on December 12, 2011
Cool IoT devices obscured an even more revolutionary aspect of the IoT: for the first time, everyone needing instant access to real-time data about things to make better decisions or
Hack by W. David Stephenson on August 25, 2017
Its not good enough just to hire them. REhire them. Managers tend to pigeonhole employees, and employees tend to pigeonhole themselves.
Hack by Jason Bernstein on September 20, 2010

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