Lean Startups in Government: The Rise of Entrepreneurship

Summary

The new CTO of the United States, Todd Park, has brought lean startup philosophies to the government, resulting in an increased interest in entrepreneurship, particularly due to the obsolescence of routine jobs being automated, leading to the creation of a burgeoning startup industry. There are concerns about whether failure is being rewarded too much, and if we have lost the old notion of survival of the fittest. Productive failure is deemed more valuable, and the Lean Startup method is designed to engineer productive failures by failing and pivoting as soon as possible.

The Shift Towards Entrepreneurship
Experimentation is Key
The Importance of Productive Failure
Implementing Lean Startup Methods in Large Companies

Introduction

In the current landscape of rapidly evolving technology, many traditional career paths are becoming less secure, leading to a shift towards entrepreneurship. This trend has gained more momentum due to the increasing obsolescence of routine jobs that are being automated. As a result, Todd Park, the new CTO of the United States, has brought lean startup philosophies to the government, leading to an increased interest in entrepreneurship.

Q&A

Q: Why has there been a shift towards entrepreneurship?

A: Many traditional career paths have become less secure due to the advancement of technology, leading individuals to seek out more secure job opportunities. In addition, the obsolescence of routine jobs that are being automated is also a factor in the shift towards entrepreneurship.

Q: What is the impact of this shift?

A: The shift towards entrepreneurship has led to a burgeoning startup industry that is seen as the beginning of a movement towards a management science of entrepreneurship. It is still early to identify which ideas will prove to be the most impactful in the long term.

Q: What can mid-career non-entrepreneurs in boring jobs about to be automated do?

A: Mid-career non-entrepreneurs in boring jobs about to be automated should experiment with different things that measure their sense of progress by how much value they create for customers. Employers should acknowledge that it’s a waste of human potential to employ workers in boring jobs and have people in their organization whose job is to figure out what the next big thing is.

Q: Is failure being rewarded too much in today’s society?

A: While some believe it’s important to embrace failure, productive failure is more valuable – where one learns something important from their failure.

Q: What is the Lean Startup method, and how can it help companies thrive?

A: The Lean Startup method is designed to engineer productive failures by failing and pivoting as soon as possible. For large companies, it can be challenging to implement such a method because they are risk-averse. However, carving out a budget for internal entrepreneurs and creating the right structure can help them thrive.

Q: How can senior leadership in big companies create platforms for experimentation?

A: Senior leadership in big companies must realize that creating platforms for experimentation is critical for leadership success in the 21st century. The example of Intuit’s Snap Tax product team highlights the importance of creating an island of freedom for experimentation, with accountability measures in place.

Conclusion

The shift towards entrepreneurship has gained momentum due to the increased obsolescence of routine jobs being automated, leading to the creation of a burgeoning startup industry. While there are concerns about failure being rewarded too much, productive failure is deemed more valuable, and the Lean Startup method can help companies engineer productive failures. Implementing these methods in large companies can be challenging, but it is critical for leadership success in the 21st century.