Word of the Day & Pop Quiz: skunk works

Word of the Day: Daily updates on the latest technology terms

Word of the Day & Pop Quiz Daily updates on the latest technology terms | August 26, 2020 skunk works A skunk works is a small group of people who works on a project that needs to be completed quickly with minimal management constraints. In business, skunk works are usually disbanded after the special project is completed. The term skunk works was first introduced during World War II by engineers at Lockheed Corporation, now known as Lockheed Martin. The engineers, who were tasked with quickly building a fighter jet for the United States government, operated under a pragmatic management approach developed by Clarence L. "Kelly" Johnson. Johnson's style of management was based on three principles: it's more important to listen than to talk; a timely wrong decision is better than no decision; and it's important to be bold when solving problems, so they never come up again. People have speculated that Lockheed's skunk works got its name because the overworked aeronautics engineers had poor hygiene habits, but the name was really a play on words inspired by a running joke in Li'l Abner, a popular comic strip at the time. Continue reading... Take today's Pop Quiz! Answer key below   1. If engineers love skunks, then cross-functional teams in IT must love ________, because that's what IT pros tend to call a cross-departmental team that's pulled together to address a critical issue. a. unicorns b. tigers Answer 2. An SDWT is similar to a skunk works, except that an SDWT is not temporary, nor is it limited to a single project. What does SDWT stand for? Answer   3. In what Gartner-promoted model for IT operations does one goup of employees follow established corporate processes, while a second group is free to experiment with ways to improve processes? Answer 4. Which management philosophy embraces the idea of cutting losses when something isn't working and quickly trying something else? a. fail fast b. X and Y Theory Answer 5. In project management, ______________ describes the three most significant restrictions on any project: scope, schedule and cost.  a. triple constraint b. triage Answer Today's Takeaway "When we talk about the pragmatic mindset, it's really the recognition that at the beginning, we don't know much. We know less than we need to know to effectively plan, and so it doesn't make sense to try to do detailed planning upfront." -- Samuel Brown Watch and Learn   Defining a project's scope is essential for completing the project effectively and on time. The better a project has been "scoped" at the beginning, the better the team can manage change. Watch to learn more about the benefits of scoping a project and why it's important. Continue Learning How the COVID-19 pandemic is fast-tracking AI health innovation The COVID-19 outbreak has reminded the world that there's a lot of truth in the old saying that necessity is the mother of invention.   Why is innovative leadership essential in the workplace? Mark McClain discusses how he became an innovative leader in business and how it helped create a collaborative environment in the workplace. Culture of learning can spark channel innovation Channel partners seeking to drive innovation should become learning organizations that encourage risk-taking and creative thinking. Innovation and the economy: Going digital key to enduring downturn Innovation and the economy, even in hard times, are closely linked. A look back at previous economic downturns reveals a good deal of pain but also associated cycles of quickening IT adoption. IoT innovation culture powers business success What do organizations need to drive innovation in their IoT teams? Tech leaders can start by creating a culture of innovation that encourages creativity and growth in IoT deployments. Pop Quiz Answer Key 1. tiger team 2. self-directed work team   3. bimodal IT 4. fail fast 5. triple constraint Stay in Touch Thank you for reading! For feedback about any of our definitions or to suggest a new definition (or learning resource) please contact me at mrouse@techtarget.com FOLLOW US About This E-Newsletter The Word of the Day is published by TechTarget, Inc., 275 Grove Street, Newton, Massachusetts, 02466 US. Click to: Unsubscribe. You are receiving this email because you are a member of TechTarget. When you access content from this email, your information may be shared with the sponsors or future sponsors of that content and with our Partners, see up-to-date Partners List, as described in our Privacy Policy. For additional information, please contact: webmaster@techtarget.com. © 2020 TechTarget, Inc. all rights reserved. Designated trademarks, brands, logos, and service marks are the property of their respective owners. Privacy Policy | Partners List