TruthWorks How Bureaucracy is Killing Innovation, and How to Fix it! - Michele Zanini
Jul 29, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Michele Zanini, an expert in organizational design and co-author of 'Humanocracy,' dives into how traditional bureaucracy stifles innovation. She shares insights on transforming companies into dynamic, employee-centric cultures, drawing on examples like Netflix and the U.S. Army. Along with Bob Sutton, they challenge conventional performance reviews and advocate for collaborative evaluations. The conversation is packed with actionable steps to embrace change and unleash human potential by fostering a culture of creativity and accountability.
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Management Model Determines Renewal
- Organizations fail to renew because their management model prizes control, predictability, and conformance over innovation.
- The right organizational model produces the strategies that allow sustained renewal and engagement.
Process Obsession Crushes Audacity
- Bureaucracy rewards adherence to process over audacity and outcome, which limits innovation.
- Humanocracy retains coordination benefits while enabling autonomy, peer accountability, and ownership.
Flip Instrumentality: People As Resourceful
- Bureaucracy treats people as instruments and over-indexes on process and compliance.
- Humanocracy flips instrumentality: people are resourceful and the organization multiplies their impact.
