Skunkworks
A small, autonomous team given freedom to work on breakthrough innovations outside normal structures.
Also known as: Skunk works, Innovation lab, Tiger team
Category: Concepts
Tags: innovations, organizations, teams, autonomy, breakthroughs
Explanation
Skunkworks (from Lockheed's famous division) describes small, autonomous teams operating outside normal organizational constraints to develop breakthrough innovations. Characteristics include: small team size, high autonomy, minimal bureaucracy, top-level sponsorship, and physical or organizational separation from mainstream operations. The model works because: talented people can move faster without constraints, radical ideas are protected from corporate antibodies, and focus is maintained without competing priorities. Famous examples include: Lockheed's original Skunk Works (SR-71, F-117), Apple's Macintosh team, and Google's early Gmail development. Challenges include: reintegration with main organization, potential resentment from regular employees, and sustainability after initial project. The approach suits: breakthrough projects requiring different processes, competitive crises requiring rapid response, and explorations that would be killed in normal review processes. For knowledge workers, understanding skunkworks helps: recognize when radical separation is needed and how to operate effectively in constrained environments.
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