LinkLog: Startups
2008 March 2
This is a problem that faces everysuccesful startup – how do you go from small. Whether it is growing an organization or growing a product, how do you make sure that you do not become “soggy” as you grow?
The Elephant and the Ant: Why Companies Need Processes as they grow triggered by Seth Godin’s Soggy.A similar abstraction, on a very different subject- software. How a beautiful software system becomes Frankenstein paints a vivid picture of what happens when you grow from small to big.
The success is in handling this change in size well.
BSO/Origin was a very successful Dutch company that utilized the cell-approach of splitting into smaller independent units of about 65 people each as the company size grew. This kept each “cell” lean and agile, while benefiting from economy of scale within a loose larger business framework.
More about the BSO philosophy:
http://www.extent.nl/articles/entry/the-green-man-of-the-woods/
Pieter,
Thanks for the info.