Can you Experiment Your Way to Greatness?

I recently got asked the question:

Does Lean lead to breakthrough innovation?

Since a lot of Lean is built on the Scientific Method, this would be akin to asking:

Does the Scientific Method lead to breakthrough discovery?

We know the answer to the second question.

But a transitive argument is not enough to dismiss the first question.

A lot of scientific inquiry, like entrepreneurial inquiry, goes nowhere.

Both describe running experiments as a key activity,

but simply running experiments does NOT guarantee success.

With both, you have to start with big problems worth solving.

You then formulate your best possible theory

of what might work and build a model

that you then test through experiments.

Neither method guarantees results.

But both give you rigorous process for

validating or invalidating your model.

And put the ball again in your court for your next move.