Summary:
Why do some organizations consistently outperform others—even when they have the same resources, technology, and constraints? In this fast-paced and engaging talk from Prodacity 2025, Steve Spear, Principal at HVE LLC and Founder of See to Solve, breaks down the principles of high-velocity learning, problem-solving leadership, and creating conditions where teams can thrive.
From Toyota’s legendary production system to NASA, Alcoa, and U.S. Navy shipyards, Spear highlights why organizations that prioritize rapid problem identification and iterative learning win every time. If you’re serious about building a high-performing, innovative culture, this is a must-watch session.
🔹 Key Topics Covered:
- The number one predictor of organizational success: rapid problem-solving
- Why bureaucracy kills innovation—and how to fight it
- The Toyota Production System and what makes it different from competitors
- How successful leaders create conditions for high-velocity learning
- The danger of slow-moving problem resolution in complex organizations
- What NASA, Alcoa, and U.S. Navy shipyards teach us about engineering better systems
🕒 Key Highlights & Timestamps:
[00:03] – Introduction: Why some organizations win—and others fall behind
[01:58] – The Toyota case study: Half the input, twice the output
[04:49] – The problem with bureaucratic problem-solving & slow-moving decision-making
[07:27] – How Toyota’s leadership sees their role differently
[10:49] – Why the real job of leadership is creating conditions for problem-solving
[12:35] – The Navy shipyard case study: How one mechanic changed the system
[16:09] – Why problem-solving must be rapid, iterative, and built into daily work
[18:44] – The cognitive science behind great problem-solving teams
[22:10] – Lessons from NASA, Alcoa, and leading industrial organizations
[25:06] – Final thoughts: If you’re not solving problems at high velocity, you’re losing
Resources:
- Read excerpts from The High-Velocity Edge: Chapters 1, 4, & 5 and Chapter 11 Healthcare
- Read excerpt from Wiring the Winning Organization.
Order Steve’s book, The High-Velocity Edge here
Order Steve’s book, Wiring the Winning Organization here
| Steven Spear DBA MS MS Principal, See to Solve LLC Senior Lecturer, MIT Sloan School of Management Senior Fellow, Institute for Healthcare Improvement Author, The High Velocity Edge Click Here For Steve Spear’s LinkedIn |
