Why Does DARPA Work?

I've had this article in my reader since it came out in 2020. It's in my "constant re-read rotation" primarily because it has rich detail on a few practices that run against my grain. It's also one of the most thorough reviews of an organization's structure and ways of working that I've ever seen.

Have a look!

Opacity enables outlier successes

My "normal" stance on transparency vs. opacity is something like, "most organizations have less internal transparency than they need, leading to mistrust, CYA-ing, and hours spent 'finding the truth' instead of 'getting important things done.'"

The opposite at DARPA: