The Definitive Hamburger

When McDonald's standardized their menu in the 1950s, they were demonstrating exploitation of a successful formula for the delivery of the definitive hamburger. This exploitation led them into unprecendented growth.

When McDonald's started serving salads in the 1980s, they were demonstrating the kind of exploration necessary when successful formulas no longer support a valid outcome.

In other words, when people wanted hamburgers, McDonalds perfected a method to meet that need better than anyone. And when some of those hamburger-lovers started wanting salad instead, McDonald's found a way to successfully deviate from the formula in order to develop innovations to support continued relevance.

According to LeadershipNow, exploitation and exploration must always occur concurrently; it's what is referred to as design thinking, and it's what helps prepare organizations to meet an unpredictable future.

Read more at LeadingBlog.

What do you consider to be the "definitive hamburger" of your organization? What trends are forcing you to explore new services, products, or methods of engagment?

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DigitalNow 2010 - a res