Some government friction is there on purpose

Brett Ferguson

Published on: 31/08/2026

What the U.S. constitutional system can teach us about coordination: why distributed authority, dependencies, and constraints can create necessary friction rather than dysfunction.

coordination systemsorganizational designdecision authorityconstraint visibilityfailure containmentchecks and balancesseparation of powersorganizational frictioncoordination contractsadaptation capacityU.S. governmentconstitutional designRecursive Coordination Theory

AI authority is moving faster than risk accountability

Brett Ferguson

Published on: 20/08/2026

AI adoption is changing who leads the conversation inside some organizations. In [What senior leaders want to know about AI](https://mitsloan.mit.edu/ideas-made-to-matter/what-senior-leaders-want-to-know-about-ai), MIT Sloan School of Management

AI adoptionC-suiteIT governanceconstraint visibilitydecision authoritydecision rightsdigital transformationfailure containmentrisk accountability

Operating model redesigns expose how organizations handle risk

Brett Ferguson

Published on: 07/08/2026

An operating model redesign changes more than structures and reporting lines. It creates a transition in which continuity, talent, and communication risks have to be managed while the organization is still expected to deliver. That makes the way an

adaptation capacityfailure containmentoperating model redesignproactive risk managementstate traceabilitysurvey evidencetransition risks

The boundaries around an innovation shape what leaders can see

Brett Ferguson

Published on: 31/07/2026

An organization decides to solve a business problem. A new product, process, or operating approach begins to take shape around that decision. Before implementation starts, though, another choice has already been made: the organization has defined

constraint visibilityexternalitiesfailure containmentstate traceabilitysustainable innovationsystem boundariessystems thinkingunintended consequences