Can you stay lean and agile, in order to address complexity?

In my posts this week, I have been exploring the application of agile techniques to the development of collective impact efforts through MVC’s –Minimal Viable Consortia.

I came across an interesting example catalyzed by the Schmidt Futures Network—called Focused Research Organization (FRO).

This agile startup structure is created as a new model designed to solve scientific or technological challenges that can not be addressed by existing organizational structures in academia, industry or government.

They are designed to operate as tight knight fast-moving mission-driven organizations with a startup agile way of operating.

The organization has a mission that drives its work, with the moonshot approach to solving big problems, but a systematic, agile process that for iterations. Its teams are shielded from academic and for-profit incentives.

FROs are important when solving the problem requires coordinated levels of engineering or system building and has a societal benefit that must transcend monetary or proprietary goals.

FROs are designed to produce tools or technologies, key scientific data sets, or processes that accelerate progress in the whole field. At the conclusion of the FRO’s mission, transition plans enable the rapid and widespread dissemination of the work.

❓Now you: Are there any grand challenges in your field where you think a lean, agile approach would produce breakthrough results?

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