Thou Shalt Not… Run Experiments!

Thou shalt not…
run experiments in this organization! 💥

One of the things I have always enjoyed the most about working with organizations and teams is conducting experiments, whether small or large, to validate an assumption, solve a problem, or improve the situation. Some experiments were technical, others process-oriented or product-related.

The outcome of an experiment is unknown, and it can be risky. But it’s super rewarding when things work out as desired or beyond expectation! When you’ve finally found a solution to a tough challenge.

That’s what makes it fun, interesting, and even adventurous! 
Who doesn’t like a good adventure? 😃

I’ve worked with a client who didn’t share my enthusiasm. 
Initially, I was blown away! Booooring!!! 💤

Interestingly, continuous improvement and innovation were prominently mentioned in the company’s mission statement and strategy. They were considered essential to surviving the turbulent age of digitalization.

But it was also a large financial institute managing vast sums of money. It didn’t want to give its clients the impression that it was taking risks with experiments whose outcome was unknown.

So, the term ‘experiment’ was abandoned. ❌

I was allowed to run experiments, but should call the ‘initiatives’ instead. This term felt more secure and gave the impression that the outcome was predictable and known, which in many cases wasn’t.

It resulted in an atmosphere full of contradictions. 🤷‍♀️

On one hand, this company frequently made the news of being old-fashioned and offering products that weren’t innovative enough anymore. Everyone in the company was aware of this AND wanted to change it. That’s why they started a company-wide Agile transformation in the first place.

On the other hand, most initiatives (or experiments) for change were not approved or drained of energy due to all the rules they should apply.

The company recently made the news again because a competitor acquired them. I can’t judge if there’s a connection with the struggle to innovate, but I’ve spoken to a former colleague who confirmed that things haven’t changed much since I left the company. Things kept going downhill for years.

I can only feel sympathy for this company and, more importantly, its employees. Everyone I knew wanted to innovate and was willing to experiment to improve the situation.

However, they also felt pressure to deliver high-quality products with a 99,99% uptime. Even a short downtime nowadays can make national news (given the company’s products and services). 😟

Over the years, my opinion about these types of companies has become less harsh. My outsider perspective was often too simplistic, ignoring the wicked situation. Change is necessary; this requires experiments with an unknown outcome, while quality can’t be compromised.

Respect for everyone facing these challenges. 🙏

How do you relate to this story? What experiences do you have?