Hacking HR to Build an Adaptability Advantage

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Sprint 1.3: The Design Principles of Adaptable Organizations

Sprint 1.3 is now complete. Read the synthesis of the design principles of adaptability here.

During Sprint 1.1 and Sprint 1.2 the hackathon team developed a comprehensive list of 120 enemies of adaptability, and provided input on those that were particularly pressing.  Based on this input, we’ve identified 12 critical enemies of adaptability, which are detailed in this blog post from Hackathon Guide Chris Grams.

During Sprint 1.3, which will end on June 5, we are going to identify the design rules, or principles, that characterize truly adaptable organizations.  These principles will provide important clues for generating ideas on how to “hack” HR, something we’ll turn to after this Sprint ends on June 5.

Here are your tasks for this sprint:


TASK 1:  Get oriented by reading the introductory blog post Embracing New Principles by Gary Hamel. 


TASK 2:  In the section below, we’ve seeded a list with several principles—you can think of these as the features that define truly adaptable organizations.  We’re looking for your input on…

  1. Which of these principles are most important—and why?  Let us know by “liking” and commenting on these (feel free to build off the ideas of others).
  2. Are there other principles you’d add to this list?  Please share your principle here.

Note: you must be logged in to submit a new principle or to comment on an existing principle.


This sprint ends on June 5.
mix-administrator's picture

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...

mix-administrator's picture

Most organizations control information in order to control decisions and people.  Yet developing the most prescient view of tomorrow’s threats and opportunities, or of today’s most pressing issues, requires open and uncensored decision-making processes that exploit the organization’s collective wisdom.  Moreover, organizations where employees lack the data to act quickly...

mix-administrator's picture

Diversity is not only essential for the survival of a species it is also a prerequisite for long-term corporate viability. Organizations that don’t embrace and exploit a diversity of experiences, values, and capabilities will be unable to generate a rich variety of ideas, options, and experiments—the essential ingredients of strategic...

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