Move Fast and Break Things

SpaceX's recent Starship second test flight, which ended in a two-step 'rapid unscheduled disassembly', stands out as a stark illustration of a high-stakes, high-reward philosophy.

This event underscores a mindset often encapsulated in the phrase 'move fast and break things.' (Mark Zuckerberg). Central to this philosophy is the idea that rapid prototyping, testing, and a willingness to embrace failure are crucial for groundbreaking achievements. This approach, while risky and often controversial, is predicated on the belief that through successive failures and iterations, one can achieve unprecedented levels of innovation and breakthroughs.

In this article, I delve into the historical context of this philosophy, its advantages and disadvantages, and compare it with more traditional approaches.

Historical Context

The philosophy of embracing failures has deep historical roots, illustrated by pioneers like Thomas Edison and the Wright Brothers, who demonstrated that setbacks are not merely obstacles but essential steps towards success.

• Thomas Edison's Light Bulb: Edison's journey in refining the light bulb, involving thousands of attempts, is emblematic of this philosophy. He famously viewed each failed attempt not as a defeat but as a vital part of the discovery process. Edison's 2,774 attempts before achieving success with the light bulb highlight the importance of persistence and resilience in the face of repeated failures.
• Wright Brothers and Aviation: Similarly, the Wright brothers' path to achieving sustainable flight was paved with failures. Before their success, they faced numerous setbacks, including unsuccessful glider attempts. These initial failures, however, did not deter them; instead, they spurred further innovation and experimentation. Their story is a testament to how early failures in complex endeavours like aviation can fuel the inventive process, leading to eventual breakthroughs.

These historical examples underscore a crucial message: innovation is often a trial-and-error process where failures are not just inevitable but invaluable, providing crucial insights and learnings that pave the way for success.

Comparison with Different Approaches

The 'move fast and break things' philosophy stands in contrast to other methodical approaches to innovation adopted by companies like:

• Toyota: Toyota's product development process is knowledge-based and centers on multiple solutions for each component, refining them over time to minimize risk. This methodology, known as set-based concurrent engineering, focuses on redundancy to radically reduce risk, ensuring that the final system configuration emerges from creative combinations of multiple solution sets.
• Apple: Known for its meticulous design and development process, Apple's innovation strategy involves significant planning, research, and refinement before product launches. Their approach has led to revolutionary products like the iPhone, iPod Touch, and Leopard OS, contributing to significant revenue growth.
• General Electric (GE): GE's innovation strategy is grounded in developing breakthrough products through extensive research and development. Examples include their HD CT scanner, which reduces radiation exposure, and their reengineered CF34 jet engine, demonstrating their commitment to innovation that balances technological advancement with practical applications.

Advantages of Embracing Failures

In the dynamic landscape of modern innovation, the 'move fast and break things' philosophy represents a bold departure from traditional, risk-averse strategies. This approach has clear advantages:

1. Accelerated Learning and Innovation: The rapid iteration cycle in the 'move fast and break things' philosophy leads to quick learning from mistakes. This acceleration is vital in fields like aerospace, where new and untested ideas are the norm. By embracing failures, organizations can iterate and innovate faster.
2. Fostering Creativity and Exploration: This approach encourages thinking outside the box. When failure is an accepted part of the process, it frees up teams to explore more daring and potentially revolutionary ideas without the fear of repercussions from unsuccessful attempts.
3. Breakthrough Innovations: High-risk, high-reward projects, typical of this philosophy, can lead to groundbreaking advancements. This approach is often the driving force behind significant leaps in technology and science, where conventional methods might not yield such revolutionary results.
4. Adaptability and Resilience: Organizations that embrace failure often develop a culture of adaptability and resilience. This mindset enables them to respond more flexibly and robustly to challenges, turning potential setbacks into opportunities for learning and growth.
5. Engagement and Team Morale: When teams are not penalized for failures but are encouraged to learn from them, it can lead to higher engagement and morale. This positive work environment fosters a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.

Disadvantages and Challenges

While the 'move fast and break things' philosophy fosters rapid innovation and creativity, it also brings inherent challenges and downsides:

1. Inadequate Research: Focusing predominantly on rapid prototyping can lead to insufficient comprehensive analysis. This myopic view may result in missing better solutions or incomplete specifications, ultimately leading to poorly engineered projects that are difficult to maintain.
2. Higher Initial Costs: The philosophy of frequent iteration and testing can be more expensive upfront. Although thorough prototyping might save costs in the long run, it requires significant initial capital, especially when using new, costly prototyping methods.
3. Sustainability Concerns: This approach can lead to resource wastage, raising questions about environmental sustainability. Repeated failures mean more materials and energy consumed, which might not align with sustainable development goals.
4. Safety Risks: In industries like aerospace, the implications of failure are substantial. Each failure not only incurs financial losses but also poses significant safety risks, both to the team involved and potentially to the public.
5. Public Perception and Trust: Frequent failures, especially in high-profile projects, can affect public perception and trust in an organization. It's challenging to maintain stakeholder confidence amidst visible and dramatic setbacks.

Conclusion

SpaceX's approach to embracing failures in innovation offers a path to remarkable achievements but requires balancing risk and responsibility. This philosophy accelerates learning and fosters creativity, leading to potentially groundbreaking innovations. However, it must be tempered with considerations for sustainability, safety, and financial prudence. By learning from past innovators and modern examples like SpaceX, we can navigate the complex landscape of boundary-pushing innovation.

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Recommended Reading

• Kline, S. J., & Rosenberg, N. (2010). An overview of innovation. Studies on science and the innovation process: Selected works of Nathan Rosenberg, 173-203.
• Weick, C. W., & Jain, R. K. (2014). Rethinking industrial research, development and innovation in the 21st century. Technology in Society, 39, 110-116.