The High Velocity Edge: Micro Review
The High Velocity Edge by Steve Spear is another great book on lean principles and its applicability to high performing organizations. There are many parallels and learnings for IT organizations on path to digital transformation.
The author hooked me in initial chapter where he describes high velocity orgs -
“High Velocity organizations do not encourage or admire workarounds, firefighting, and heroic measures. They want to understand and solve problems, not put up with them.”
The book has great advice as well as a suggested framework (capabilities, rules and an approach) to become a high velocity organization that I found very insightful.
I also loved the callout for role of leaders in these organizations:
— Continual improvement of processes is the key role of leaders.
— Leaders have to have a deep understanding of how things work if they are to develop people, guide people, and make decisions.
I found the later part of the book fascinating as it recounts author’s detailed perspective and observations on his concepts working at Toyota.
Also, the book has many case studies in diverse fields highlighting what works and what doesn’t in a highly complex environment that we all find ourselves.
A recommended read.
