3 ms·

We talked to Alan at great lengths in the process of putting this together. He is the most insightful person I've ever met on how to structure an organization

by sama 11y ago

We talked to Alan at great lengths in the process of putting this together. He is the most insightful person I've ever met on how to structure an organization for great research.

myth_buster 11y ago
Glad to hear that! Some of his thoughts really resonated with me although they run counter to the current corporate research culture. I think Google managed to recreate something similar with their 20% projects
- shas3 11y ago
  > "recreate" Other companies have had the 15% / 20% culture, etc. long before Google. Example, http://archive.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/1998/01/9858 http://archive.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/1998/01/9858
  - myth_buster 11y ago
    I'm not saying Google came up with 15/20% culture, all I'm saying is that they got some benefit from it just like Xerox got.
nchammas 11y ago
Is there a talk or discussion somewhere that touches on some of these insights into creating a great research organization?
scobar 11y ago
In the article, he suggests finding Michelangelos. I imagine there are many who are clearly the right type, but many more non-obvious Michelangelos. Do you have (or intend to discover) a reliable way to foresee the best people even while circumstances influencing their lives have diverted them from the traditional outlets to look for such individuals? I assume there will be enough obviously great candidates wanting to "work" at YCR that you won't need to dig for hidden gems. I was just curious to know if it was something you'd considered. Sam, when I met you at Startup School last year, I wanted to be brief. The most important thing I wanted to communicate to you was my gratitude, and I thanked you for sharing your startup class. I'm blown away by and so grateful for the stuff you've been doing since. I'm very excited to see how these new projects work out. Thank you again man.

3 ms·

We talked to Alan at great lengths in the process of putting this together. He is the most insightful person I've ever met on how to structure an organization

by sama 11y ago

We talked to Alan at great lengths in the process of putting this together. He is the most insightful person I've ever met on how to structure an organization for great research.

myth_buster 11y ago
Glad to hear that! Some of his thoughts really resonated with me although they run counter to the current corporate research culture. I think Google managed to recreate something similar with their 20% projects
- shas3 11y ago
  > "recreate" Other companies have had the 15% / 20% culture, etc. long before Google. Example, http://archive.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/1998/01/9858 http://archive.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/1998/01/9858
  - myth_buster 11y ago
    I'm not saying Google came up with 15/20% culture, all I'm saying is that they got some benefit from it just like Xerox got.
nchammas 11y ago
Is there a talk or discussion somewhere that touches on some of these insights into creating a great research organization?
scobar 11y ago
In the article, he suggests finding Michelangelos. I imagine there are many who are clearly the right type, but many more non-obvious Michelangelos. Do you have (or intend to discover) a reliable way to foresee the best people even while circumstances influencing their lives have diverted them from the traditional outlets to look for such individuals? I assume there will be enough obviously great candidates wanting to "work" at YCR that you won't need to dig for hidden gems. I was just curious to know if it was something you'd considered. Sam, when I met you at Startup School last year, I wanted to be brief. The most important thing I wanted to communicate to you was my gratitude, and I thanked you for sharing your startup class. I'm blown away by and so grateful for the stuff you've been doing since. I'm very excited to see how these new projects work out. Thank you again man.