The High-Velocity Edge

by Steven J. Spear

velocity organizations both structurally and dynamically. Structurally, they insist that each piece of work be done with an eye to the larger process of which it is a part. Dynamically, they insist that each piece of work be done in such a way as to bring problems to the attention of those who can best analyze and solve them. Low-velocity organizations, in contrast, are characterized by “siloization”—“You do your job and I’ll do mine”—rather than integration and by endless workarounds and firefighting—“This’ll do for now” or “Don’t worry, this happens all the time”—rather than continual improvement, innovation, and invention.