Great piece Michael. It is somewhat counterintuitive that generalists may outperform specialists, but I imagine, as you allude to, that holds true only in teams comprised of a mix of generalists and specialists. That way, they complement and bring out the best in each other.
This discussion reminds me a bit of how DARPA works. Groundbreaking innovation arises from small, temporary teams of individuals brought together to solve a complex problem. These teams are brought together in forms that may not have occurred otherwise, which is party what makes DARPA so innovative.
The whole can be greater than the sum of its parts.
Great piece Michael. It is somewhat counterintuitive that generalists may outperform specialists, but I imagine, as you allude to, that holds true only in teams comprised of a mix of generalists and specialists. That way, they complement and bring out the best in each other.
This discussion reminds me a bit of how DARPA works. Groundbreaking innovation arises from small, temporary teams of individuals brought together to solve a complex problem. These teams are brought together in forms that may not have occurred otherwise, which is party what makes DARPA so innovative.
The whole can be greater than the sum of its parts.