We praise Startup Culture. We mean workplace for – creative problem solving, open communication and flat hierarchy. Builds comradeship. Provides opportunity to celebrate individuality through group success. Does this promise hold good when it sweeps corporate floors? Does it change the outfit but not the fabric? How’s it working for you?
One thing is clear. Startup Culture has changed the dress-code within Corporates. You are not stopped at the gate for wearing what you might in a Startup. So are the business titles, workspaces, initiatives. Job titles and pay grades are also entering the corporate corridors. Soon there will be changes in qualification of people, hiring terms and work packages. All good. But this is eating a few good things too… that’s the worry.
Big, Forever-startups introduced and mastered the art of Always-beta-culture. A promise that the product and services might get delivered broken, for a while. Works well for them in attracting investors, employees and partners. Customers are at the receiving end. If they are on-boarded-free or remain in free-tier, we know that they soon become the products. But if you are an individual-paid-customer, you are at risk of unprecedented changes. What you paid for may not exist tomorrow. If you happen to check late, you may not know what you had paid for. So are those hoping to build their business-castles on the moving platform. Large enterprises might have two other alternatives to bank-on.
The churn of products, services and companies is common within Startup ecosystem. Speed and Scale needs drive frequent changes and pivots. This might be good for the startups. But when big corporates mimic this, they have to be careful. Brands thrive on the trust and commitment factors. Deeper customer relationships and loyalty stem out of these attributes. Typical startup failures are not welcome when coming from corporates. This might threaten the pillars of decades of existence.
While adopting Startup Culture, it is important to stick the value system. Reinforcing freshness with new ways-of-working and quicker innovations is fine. The fabric of commitment makes corporates stand tall and weather better. Also, the stitching of governance and sustainable practices. While wearing Startup Dress, it is important to check how the fabric is changing. What it means to the company, customers and the ecosystem. Do what a startup does. Build and test MVP, in all areas – before going-full-hog.
Every company is important to keep the world ticking well. Many lives and livelihoods depend on each one of them. It is important to be cautious while embracing the new. Call it fiduciary responsibility or basic human need. While you are part of sweeping the Startup Culture within your company, watch what you are cleaning and what you are keeping….
Always beta is fine as long as you don’t hang someone else’s dreams!