Do organizations have to get slower as they grow? (with Alex Komoroske)
Dec 28, 2022
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Alex Komoroske, a seasoned product manager from Google, dives into the intriguing dynamics of organizational growth. He discusses why companies often slow down as they expand and draws fascinating parallels with slime molds that thrive in decentralized systems. The conversation explores the balance between top-down and bottom-up decision-making, emphasizing the need for flexibility and fostering serendipity to enhance creativity. Komoroske suggests that embracing unexpected opportunities can significantly improve innovation and collaboration in the workplace.
Why do organizations get slower as they grow? What can organizations learn from slime molds? What are the advantages of top-down organization versus bottom-up organization, and vice versa? How can organizations encourage serendipity? What use are doorbells in jungles? Why is it so hard for organizations to set a "north star" that is at once plausible, coherent, and good?
Alex Komoroske has over a decade of experience in the tech industry as a product manager focusing on platform- and ecosystem-shaped problems. While at Google, he worked on Chrome's Web Platform PM team, Augmented Reality in Google Maps, and Ambient Computing. He's fascinated by how to navigate the emergent complexity within organizations to achieve great results. You can find some of his public writing at komoroske.com.