Where's my innovation?
In this episode, Morgan and Eddie address a question from a newly appointed VP of Engineering at a Series C company who is struggling to foster innovation. The discussion explores the challenges of reinvigorating stagnant growth while maintaining current product stability. They delve into the concepts of balancing immediate business needs with future innovations, employing the Toyota Production System (TPS) pillars—Jidoka and Just-In-Time—and methods such as value stream mapping, cost of delay analysis, and Monte Carlo simulations. The episode underscores the importance of adaptable engineering cultures and data-driven decision-making to unlock the next stage of company growth.
- (00:00) - Introduction
- (00:02) - The Challenge of Innovation in R&D
- (00:33) - A VP's Dilemma: Stagnation and Experimentation
- (01:19) - The Stakes of Innovation
- (02:10) - Understanding the Motivation for Innovation
- (02:46) - The Technology Product Lifecycle
- (04:39) - Balancing Innovation and Operational Efficiency
- (07:09) - The Three Horizons Framework
- (11:21) - The Importance of Adaptability
- (14:54) - Lessons from the Toyota Production System
- (16:48) - Implementing Jidoka: Automation with a Human Touch
- (24:50) - The Role of Decision Making in Innovation
- (29:55) - Handling Feedback and Authority
- (32:22) - Introduction to Just-in-Time Management
- (34:00) - Value Stream Mapping Explained
- (40:52) - Cost of Delay Analysis
- (51:02) - Monte Carlo Simulations
Creators and Guests
Host
Eddie Flaisler
Eddie is a classically-trained computer scientist born in Romania and raised in Israel. His experience ranges from implementing security systems to scaling up simulation infrastructure for Uber’s autonomous vehicles, and his passion lies in building strong teams and fostering a healthy engineering culture.
Host
Morgan VanDerLeest
Trying to make software engineering + leadership a better place to work. Dad. Book nerd. Pleasant human being.
