HBR On Strategy How to Push for Change in a Large Organization
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Mar 12, 2025 Maria Roche, a Harvard Business School professor specializing in innovation management, joins U.S. Air Force Major Victor Salsa-Lopez, who spearheaded AI initiatives in defense. They discuss the hurdles of driving innovation within bureaucracies and how the Department of Defense has surprisingly contributed to tech advancements since WWII. The conversation highlights the role of AI in optimizing military operations, the challenge of integrating new technologies in legacy organizations, and contrasting the innovation landscapes of government versus private sectors.
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Innovation in Large Organizations
- Large organizations, not just startups, drive substantial innovation.
- Consider the trade-offs in organizing innovation within larger entities.
DoD's Innovation History
- The Department of Defense (DoD) has a history of investing in innovation, exemplified by the RAD Lab in WWII.
- This lab's legacy continues to influence institutions like the Lincoln Lab and AFWERX.
Government-Funded Breakthroughs
- Government-funded research has led to breakthroughs like material science, weather satellites, and personal computing.
- Even the first computer mouse and AI-powered mobile robot resulted from government initiatives.