The "skunk works" approach to difficult problems has been well proven, often as a "small is beautiful" approach within a bigger company. Beyond a certain size,

The "skunk works" approach to difficult problems has been well proven, often as a "small is beautiful" approach within a bigger company. Beyond a certain size, it's hard for the effort of a single individual to have the kind of large effect that is a key driver of motivation—it's hard for enough of the individuals to each feel they have a large effect on process and outcomes.