Who is Farhan Lalji?

Is innovation in a big company a paradox? Or does it exist but need to be structured in a certain way to be successful? What is that way?

I’ve been thinking a lot about over the past year as I’ve been working at a big co for the first time.

This is not a new conversation, I always think of Xerox and the GUI and how Xerox isn’t in the conversation anymore.

Should big companies even bother? Or should they invest in start ups that show promise and then acquire?

Reminds me, I need to pick up the Innovators dilemma from the school library.

Jeremy Shockey got hurt, Tiki Barber retired and the New York Giants won the Superbowl. Thierry Henry left Arsenal and they’re having a monster season. A few years ago the Toronto Raptors traded Vince Carter to the New Jersey Nets, the Raptors have gotten better and better, the Nets worse and worse. What does all this mean? It means that getting rid of ego-centric star players can help teams build a sense of team and focus on winning games rather then on the mechanics of the game.

Eli Manning, Cesc Fabregas and Chris Bosh all benefited from the fact that the “star” player on the team was gone. The focus had moved from “getting the ball”, “scoring baskets” or goals, to winning through a system.

Some general managers and coaches really understand the fact that a team needs time to form a team culture. Others, like Isiah Thomas, think having a lot of stars on a team will help a team win.

I think this system/strategy would work in business as well. At all levels, when you’re struggling you have people inside who are used to doing things their way. Who are used to being given responsibilities and leadership and this is seen as a badge rather then a sense of team, a sense of playing to win.

So when I see teams or companies that are winning the common element seems to be everyone wants to win. The focus is not on who does what, the focus is on what does it take to win.