Minimum Viable Process: Applying Startup Thinking to Established Operations

Established companies often struggle with slow, bureaucratic processes, while startups move quickly and adapt. The difference? Startups prioritize agility—they build, test, and refine rather than over-engineering from the start.

What if large organizations applied the same lean approach to their internal processes?

The “Process Bloat” Problem        

Many organizations follow this cycle:

• Start with a simple process
• Add extra steps to fix problems
• Layer multiple approvals to reduce risk
• End up with a slow, rigid system that frustrates employees

Instead of driving efficiency, these systems often waste time and create unnecessary work.

The Minimum Viable Process (MVP) Approach        

An MVP isn’t just for product development—it applies to processes too.

1?? Strip Down to Essentials

• Traditional approach: 12-step purchase approval with 4 signatures
• MVP approach: Single approval for purchases under Rs 50,000, automated notifications to finance

Example: A manufacturing company cut its change control process from 27 steps to 9 by removing redundant approvals. The result? Better compliance and execution because people actually followed the process.

2?? Build to Learn, Not to Last

• Traditional thinking: "This process must work perfectly forever."
• MVP thinking: "This process should solve today's problem while we learn and improve."

Example: Instead of spending six months designing a full inventory system, a retail chain started with a simple daily count of its 20 most critical items. Within weeks, they identified Rs 4,50,000 in missing inventory—long before the full system was ready.

3?? Measure Process Value, Not Compliance

• Traditional metric: "Did we follow all 15 steps?"
• MVP metric: "Did we achieve the right outcome efficiently?"

Example: A healthcare provider measured efficiency by time to patient treatment instead of checklist completion. They eliminated three documentation steps that added no value, allowing faster patient care.

The MVP Approach in Action: Elon Musk & Donald Trump’s Federal Overhaul        

Elon Musk and Donald Trump have both applied lean, MVP-style thinking to streamline operations.

• Elon Musk at Twitter (X): Cut bloated teams, reduced approval layers, and shifted to faster decision-making, making the company run efficiently with fewer employees.
• Donald Trump on Bureaucracy: Advocated for fewer regulations, leaner government departments, and reduced red tape—challenging slow-moving systems in favor of efficiency.

Whether you agree with their approaches or not, both recognize that excessive layers slow things down—and that simplification is often the key to effectiveness.

How to Apply This to Your Work        

1. Identify one slow, frustrating process in your organization.
2. Map out its current steps.
3. Ask, "What problem does each step solve?"
4. Remove steps that add friction without value.
5. Test a simplified version for two weeks.

Processes should serve people and outcomes, not just compliance checklists.

What’s one process in your organization that could be simplified? Drop your thoughts below.