Comments on: Does your business suffer from the "usual suspect" syndrome? http://caddellinsightgroup.com/blog2/2008/08/does-your-business-suffer-from-the-usual-suspect-syndrome/ On innovation, leadership, and understanding customers Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:50:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Michelle Malay Carter http://caddellinsightgroup.com/blog2/2008/08/does-your-business-suffer-from-the-usual-suspect-syndrome/comment-page-1/#comment-159 Michelle Malay Carter Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:13:00 +0000 http://caddellinsightgroup.com/blog2/?p=649#comment-159 John,<br/><br/>Yes, I've seen this. I've posited that it has to do with a rapidly growing organization becoming too complex for the cognitive capability of the "usual suspect".<br/><br/>Very few entrepreneurs have the humility necessary to understand when their “baby” has grown out from under them and now requires a level of leadership greater than they can offer. Relinquishing the top spot to an “outsider” and becoming their direct report takes guts and character. <br/><br/>Usually when start ups hit this crucial point, they implode or are purchased.<br/><br/>I was impressed with Linden Labs (Second Life) CEO Philip Rosedale had the character to step down as CEO this year. Bravo!<br/><br/>I blogged about another company standing at destiny's door here: http://www.missionmindedmanagement.com/adaptive-path-at-destinys-door<br/><br/>Regards,<br/><br/>Michelle Malay Carter John,

Yes, I’ve seen this. I’ve posited that it has to do with a rapidly growing organization becoming too complex for the cognitive capability of the “usual suspect”.

Very few entrepreneurs have the humility necessary to understand when their “baby” has grown out from under them and now requires a level of leadership greater than they can offer. Relinquishing the top spot to an “outsider” and becoming their direct report takes guts and character.

Usually when start ups hit this crucial point, they implode or are purchased.

I was impressed with Linden Labs (Second Life) CEO Philip Rosedale had the character to step down as CEO this year. Bravo!

I blogged about another company standing at destiny’s door here: http://www.missionmindedmanagement.com/adaptive-path-at-destinys-door

Regards,

Michelle Malay Carter

]]> By: NWGuy http://caddellinsightgroup.com/blog2/2008/08/does-your-business-suffer-from-the-usual-suspect-syndrome/comment-page-1/#comment-158 NWGuy Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:56:00 +0000 http://caddellinsightgroup.com/blog2/?p=649#comment-158 This is a common issue across organizations. There are certain stress points based on size, the increments vary but are typically addressed as 20, 100, 200, 500 people. <br/><br/>Beyond the expertise factor it comes down to key people not knowing everybody anymore. Not only are key people relied upon, they typically want to "own" everything because they know more than anybody else in the organization. <br/><br/>This was really truly with dot-coms. It takes experience to understand the need to delegate and the confidence to let go. This is a common issue across organizations. There are certain stress points based on size, the increments vary but are typically addressed as 20, 100, 200, 500 people.

Beyond the expertise factor it comes down to key people not knowing everybody anymore. Not only are key people relied upon, they typically want to “own” everything because they know more than anybody else in the organization.

This was really truly with dot-coms. It takes experience to understand the need to delegate and the confidence to let go.

]]> By: John Caddell http://caddellinsightgroup.com/blog2/2008/08/does-your-business-suffer-from-the-usual-suspect-syndrome/comment-page-1/#comment-156 John Caddell Thu, 07 Aug 2008 02:19:00 +0000 http://caddellinsightgroup.com/blog2/?p=649#comment-156 Andrew, I will have to check out that article. And I like your blog--I've added it to my RSS reading list.<br/><br/>regards, John Andrew, I will have to check out that article. And I like your blog–I’ve added it to my RSS reading list.

regards, John

]]> By: Andrew Meyer http://caddellinsightgroup.com/blog2/2008/08/does-your-business-suffer-from-the-usual-suspect-syndrome/comment-page-1/#comment-155 Andrew Meyer Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:01:00 +0000 http://caddellinsightgroup.com/blog2/?p=649#comment-155 John,<br/><br/>I have seen what you're talking about when I was at a fast growing software company in NY in 2000. Depending upon the type of company, there is a certain growth point or crisis they hit. Things that worked before that crisis, no longer work. The processes and systems seem to freeze.<br/><br/>There's an article from Harvard Business Review by Larry Greiner called "Evolution and Revolution as Organizations Grow" It's really a brilliant piece which describes exactly what I think you're talking about, why it happens and how to address it. It was originally published in 1972 and then republished in May-June 1998. It is reprint 98308.<br/><br/>Andy John,

I have seen what you’re talking about when I was at a fast growing software company in NY in 2000. Depending upon the type of company, there is a certain growth point or crisis they hit. Things that worked before that crisis, no longer work. The processes and systems seem to freeze.

There’s an article from Harvard Business Review by Larry Greiner called “Evolution and Revolution as Organizations Grow” It’s really a brilliant piece which describes exactly what I think you’re talking about, why it happens and how to address it. It was originally published in 1972 and then republished in May-June 1998. It is reprint 98308.

Andy

]]>