As a startup grows, you will find that different people in the organization will have different opinions on how much process should be introduced into the startup.
Some people will want to have a written and defined process for every activity the startup performs, even when there are less than 10 people in the startup. Other people will not want any process at all no matter how many people are on the ship.
This concept reminds me of a principle from economics class. The principle is that if you have a roommate and you both share responsibility for vacuuming the apartment, the person with the lowest tolerance for dirt will vacuum nearly every time, even if that person is just slight less tolerant of dirt than the other. The tipping point of caring about it comes along for that person first, so that person gets pegged as the designated vacuum cleaner.
The same thing happens in startups. Some people start to get pegged as the process creators. They are the ones clamoring for guidelines, rules, and order.
As a startup leader, it is important to find the right balance of process for your company. We like to use the Entrepreneurial Operating System as our guide, but keep things as free flowing as possible.
What are your thoughts on corporate processes for startups?
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