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How Organizations Collapse Into Firefighting
Every organization runs on 4 levels of work. Technical. Tactical. Operational. Strategic. Technical - does the work in accordance with process. Tactical - ensures the work is done in accordance with process. Operational - writes the process. Strategic - wields the entire organization. Each level has the same 3 core systems: Daily operations - do what needs to be done (planning and execution) Process improvement - learn from feedback, improve the standard. Accountability

Mac Davis
2 min read


The Perils of Promoting the "Least Incompetent": Why Organizations Reward "Narrative Shapers" Over True "Problem-Solvers"
In the corporate world, leadership promotions often hinge on a subtle but critical distinction: are we elevating the most competent individuals, or simply the least incompetent? This might sound like semantics, but the difference is profound and it explains why so many organizations end up with leaders who excel at spin rather than substance. The Foundation of Flawed Promotions: Poor Documentation and Perception Bias Most companies don't document work and results with the rig

Mac Davis
5 min read


Laws of Leadership: Pournelle's Iron Law of Bureaucracy
"In any bureaucratic organization, there will be two kinds of people: those committed to the mission of the organization, and those committed to the organization itself. In time, the dedicated protectors of the organization will always gain control of it, and the actual purpose of the organization will be lost." In a merit-based system, we naturally promote those who appear most competent or, phrased differently, those who are least incompetent. On the surface, this makes per

Mac Davis
2 min read
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