When, where, and how does lean innovation work best in not-very-lean Fortune 1000 companies? Why is Lean Startup so powerful in some situations, and a waste of time and resources in many others?  Bob Dorf will explore the challenges lean innovators face in oft-stodgy, bloated big corporations that can’t and won’t take the do-or-die risks so common among lean startups. He’ll discuss the “lean 4x4:” four key challenges when putting lean to work in a large-scale enterprise, and four pillars of lean innovation success.

1. BOB DORF
DORF ENTERPRISES
LEAN CUSTOMER DEVELOPMENT TRAINER / COACH
@bobdorf

2. Lean Innovation,
FATcompany
(what’s a disruptor to do?)
Bob Dorf
allegedly retired serial entrepreneur
@bobdorf www.bobdorf.nyc

3. (Non-Alternative) FACT(#1):
•Lean Innovation WORKS
•…particularly for startups
•…”betting the farm”
•often mortgage/child free
•…with unlimited risk tolerance

4. And it’s successful
at BIG companies too
just look left and right!

5. …maybe half the time!
just look left and right!

6. Let’s not talk “lean” principles
What are the key “bigco”
obstacles and challenges…

7. Let’s not talk “lean” principles
What are the key “bigco” obstacles and
challenges…
…and How do I stay employed and drive
lean innovation at Bigco?

8. Who am I??
•Startup “lifer” since age 22
•2 of 7 startup homeruns
•7 IPOs, 6 more DTT’s
•Startup Owner’s Manual
•Corporate lean trainer/coach
• GE, Merck, NewsCorp, Carvajal, many more
•Columbia EIR

9. (Non-Alternative) FACT (#2) :
•Bigcos execute, startups search
•We have rules, lawyers, HR
•Reputations, brands are assets
•Bigcos like big businesses

10. Try showing this to your Bigco boss:
Guess Guess
Guess
Guess
Guess
Guess
Guess
GuessGuess
105/16/2017

11. Four Failure Factors: (the lean “four p’s”)
1.Process
2.People
3.Priorities
4.Paranoia

12. Factor #1: Process
“No code leaves the building
without 3-6 weeks of QA”

13. Factor #1: Process
“You can’t talk to customers…
…it’s a HIPAA violation”

14. Factor #1: Process
•We plan, then execute the plan
•…and PUNISH those who don’t
•Bigco rules, procedures impede
•“We outsource that sorta stuff”
•“That sounds like market research”

15. Factor #1: Process SOLUTIONS
•Change the damn process
•Find rule-breaker “metaphors”
•“Business within a Business”
•Fully insulate internal startup teams
•Move’em off campus
•Celebrate(almost) “failing up”

16. Factor #2: People
“#1 all-day lean seminar question:
who covers my ass if it fails?”

17. Factor #2: People
“Oh I get it…bigco salary, no
options…7x24 startup hours.”

18. Factor #2: People SOLUTIONS
•Make it an honor to serve
•Assign rockstar team leaders
•“Sub option” incentives
• “career capital” ask Harold
• jeans, work from home(flextime 80 hours)
•Celebrate wins and losses ask Rich Tripodi

19. Factor #3: Priorities
“Where did our ‘Informatica’
team go?…no emails or calls!!!”

20. Factor #3: Priorities
•Is the CEO preaching innovation?
•“We have quarterly numbers to hit”
•Lean starts too tiny for S&P 500
•“We use McKinsey for that stuff”

21. Factor #3: Priorities
SOLUTIONS
•Leadership Buy-in or GO HOME!
•Segregate/Isolate Innovation Teams
•Give each team a “Gardol shield”
•…and a big exec sponsor/defender

22. Factor #4: Paranoia
“We would never show an MVP to a
customer. Could be embarrassing.”

23. Factor #4: Paranoia
SOLUTIONS
1. Measure progress in “facts” proven
2. Always be candid with your sponsor
3. Have a clear, written work plan
4.Just do it! Be an intrepreneur.

24. Thanks!
Bob Dorf
allegedly retired serial entrepreneur
@bobdorf www.bobdorf.nyc