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Organizational Archetype Upgrade Paths
Evolution Strategies for Innovation & Resilience
🌟 Breakthrough Tier
Nature's innovation champions - leading edge organizations
Innovation: 5/5
Resilience: 4-5/5
3 Archetypes
Mangrove
Innovation:
5/5
Resilience:
5/5
Speed:
4/5
Collaboration:
4/5
Hybrid systems bridging two domains
Available Upgrade Paths:
→ Rainforest
Moderate
Increase internal diversity while maintaining boundary-spanning capabilities.
Key Changes Needed:
- Expand internal capabilities
- Increase team diversity
- Create innovation labs
You'll Gain:
- Higher innovation rate
- Internal resilience
- Talent development
Trade-offs (Good & Not):
- Boundary focus
- External orientation
- Hybrid advantage
Rainforest
Innovation:
5/5
Resilience:
4/5
Speed:
3/5
Collaboration:
5/5
High diversity, overlapping functions
Available Upgrade Paths:
→ Mangrove
Hard
Extend the rich ecosystem to bridge into new domains and markets.
Key Changes Needed:
- Develop boundary-spanning capabilities
- Create hybrid roles
- Build external partnerships
You'll Gain:
- New market entry
- Ecosystem expansion
- Strategic positioning
Trade-offs (Good & Not):
- Internal focus
- Resource concentration
- Execution simplicity
Coral Reef
Innovation:
5/5
Resilience:
4/5
Speed:
4/5
Collaboration:
5/5
Modular teams, strong interfaces
Available Upgrade Paths:
→ Rainforest
Moderate
Increase diversity and resource abundance while maintaining modularity.
Key Changes Needed:
- Expand team diversity
- Increase resource allocation
- Create learning exchanges
You'll Gain:
- Breakthrough innovation
- Market leadership
- Talent magnet
Trade-offs (Good & Not):
- Some efficiency
- Coordination complexity
- Resource management
→ Mangrove
Hard
Extend modular approach across different business domains.
Key Changes Needed:
- Build cross-domain pods
- Create hybrid interfaces
- Develop bridge capabilities
You'll Gain:
- Market expansion
- Strategic flexibility
- Competitive moats
Trade-offs (Good & Not):
- Focused excellence
- Simple coordination
- Clear identity
⚡ Adaptive Tier
Fast-moving and flexible organizations
Innovation: 3-4/5
Speed: 2-5/5
4 Archetypes
Urban Jungle
Innovation:
4/5
Resilience:
3/5
Speed:
4/5
Collaboration:
4/5
Network-dense, matrixed
Available Upgrade Paths:
→ Coral Reef
Moderate
Organize networks into stable, productive pods with clear interfaces.
Key Changes Needed:
- Define pod boundaries
- Create interface protocols
- Establish pod governance
You'll Gain:
- Better coordination
- Clearer accountability
- Higher productivity
Trade-offs (Good & Not):
- Some network flexibility
- Relationship overhead
- Slower adaptation
→ Rainforest
Easy
Add resource abundance to support the existing network density.
Key Changes Needed:
- Increase investment
- Expand talent pool
- Provide better tools
You'll Gain:
- Explosive innovation
- Talent retention
- Market leadership
Trade-offs (Good & Not):
- Higher costs
- Complexity management
- Coordination challenges
Grassland
Innovation:
4/5
Resilience:
2/5
Speed:
5/5
Collaboration:
4/5
Broad open networks, rapid cycles
Available Upgrade Paths:
→ Savanna
Easy
Add seasonal resource mobilization to rapid cycles.
Key Changes Needed:
- Create resource reserves
- Build surge capacity
- Develop timing expertise
You'll Gain:
- Opportunity capture
- Resource efficiency
- Competitive advantage
Trade-offs (Good & Not):
- Planning overhead
- Resource complexity
- Timing risks
→ Coral Reef
Moderate
Create stable pods within the open network structure.
Key Changes Needed:
- Form specialized teams
- Create pod interfaces
- Establish coordination protocols
You'll Gain:
- Better knowledge retention
- Higher quality output
- Sustainable growth
Trade-offs (Good & Not):
- Some speed
- Network flexibility
- Startup culture
Savanna
Innovation:
4/5
Resilience:
3/5
Speed:
4/5
Collaboration:
3/5
Seasonal cycles and bursts
Available Upgrade Paths:
→ Grassland
Moderate
Maintain rapid cycles year-round instead of seasonal bursts.
Key Changes Needed:
- Stabilize resource flow
- Create continuous teams
- Build sustained capacity
You'll Gain:
- Consistent innovation
- Better talent retention
- Steady growth
Trade-offs (Good & Not):
- Burst capability
- Resource efficiency
- Market timing advantage
→ Mangrove
Hard
Develop hybrid capabilities that work across different seasonal markets.
Key Changes Needed:
- Build multi-domain expertise
- Create bridge roles
- Develop flexible processes
You'll Gain:
- Market diversification
- Year-round productivity
- Strategic flexibility
Trade-offs (Good & Not):
- Seasonal specialization
- Resource focus
- Execution simplicity
Mountain Range
Innovation:
3/5
Resilience:
4/5
Speed:
2/5
Collaboration:
4/5
High-stakes peaks and valleys
Available Upgrade Paths:
→ Coral Reef
Moderate
Create modular teams that can handle high-stakes projects more efficiently.
Key Changes Needed:
- Break large projects into modules
- Create specialized pods
- Build reusable components
You'll Gain:
- Risk reduction
- Faster delivery
- Knowledge reuse
Trade-offs (Good & Not):
- Big-bet capability
- Monumental achievements
- Heroic culture
→ Mangrove
Hard
Develop capabilities to operate in multiple high-stakes domains.
Key Changes Needed:
- Build diverse expertise
- Create hybrid teams
- Develop cross-domain processes
You'll Gain:
- Portfolio diversification
- Risk spreading
- Market expansion
Trade-offs (Good & Not):
- Focus intensity
- Specialized expertise
- Peak performance
🔧 Stable Tier
Reliable but slower to change organizations
Innovation: 2-4/5
Resilience: 2-4/5
3 Archetypes
Forest
Innovation:
3/5
Resilience:
4/5
Speed:
2/5
Collaboration:
3/5
Layered hierarchy with clear strata
Available Upgrade Paths:
→ Rainforest
Moderate
Increase diversity and cross-functional collaboration.
Key Changes Needed:
- Create cross-functional teams
- Encourage role flexibility
- Invest in learning programs
You'll Gain:
- Higher innovation
- Better problem-solving
- Increased adaptability
Trade-offs (Good & Not):
- Some efficiency
- Role confusion
- Management complexity
→ Mangrove
Hard
Develop hybrid capabilities that bridge multiple domains.
Key Changes Needed:
- Create boundary-spanning roles
- Develop dual competencies
- Build partner ecosystems
You'll Gain:
- Market expansion
- Unique positioning
- Strategic flexibility
Trade-offs (Good & Not):
- Identity dilution
- Resource dispersion
- Execution complexity
Desert
Innovation:
4/5
Resilience:
2/5
Speed:
3/5
Collaboration:
2/5
Resource-scarce, competitive
Available Upgrade Paths:
→ Grassland
Moderate
Increase resources and collaborative networks.
Key Changes Needed:
- Secure additional funding
- Build partner networks
- Create knowledge-sharing platforms
You'll Gain:
- Faster growth
- Reduced risk
- Better market reach
Trade-offs (Good & Not):
- Cost pressures
- Complexity increase
- Some focus dilution
→ Savanna
Easy
Develop seasonal resource mobilization capabilities.
Key Changes Needed:
- Create flexible teams
- Build resource reserves
- Develop rapid response protocols
You'll Gain:
- Opportunity capture
- Resource efficiency
- Market timing
Trade-offs (Good & Not):
- Planning complexity
- Resource idle time
- Coordination overhead
Riverine
Innovation:
3/5
Resilience:
3/5
Speed:
3/5
Collaboration:
3/5
Linear project pipelines
Available Upgrade Paths:
→ Mangrove
Moderate
Develop capabilities to operate in multiple domains simultaneously.
Key Changes Needed:
- Create parallel streams
- Build hybrid teams
- Develop domain expertise
You'll Gain:
- Market diversification
- Risk reduction
- Innovation opportunities
Trade-offs (Good & Not):
- Resource dilution
- Coordination complexity
- Potential conflicts
→ Coral Reef
Hard
Transform linear flows into modular, interconnected pods.
Key Changes Needed:
- Break projects into modules
- Create pod structures
- Build interface standards
You'll Gain:
- Higher flexibility
- Parallel development
- Better innovation
Trade-offs (Good & Not):
- Integration challenges
- Coordination overhead
- Quality variance
📋 Rigid Tier
Compliance-focused, change-resistant organizations
Innovation: 2/5
Speed: 1/5
2 Archetypes
Tundra
Innovation:
2/5
Resilience:
3/5
Speed:
1/5
Collaboration:
2/5
Rigid structures, compliance-driven
Available Upgrade Paths:
→ Forest
Easy
Add management layers while maintaining compliance focus.
Key Changes Needed:
- Introduce middle management
- Create department hierarchies
- Implement formal review processes
You'll Gain:
- Better coordination
- Clearer career paths
- Improved governance
Trade-offs (Good & Not):
- Slower decisions
- More bureaucracy
- Higher overhead costs
→ Desert
Moderate
Embrace resource constraints to drive breakthrough innovation.
Key Changes Needed:
- Reduce budget allocations
- Create innovation challenges
- Reward creative problem-solving
You'll Gain:
- Breakthrough solutions
- Efficiency innovations
- Competitive advantage
Trade-offs (Good & Not):
- Higher stress levels
- Some team attrition
- Risk of failure
Permafrost
Innovation:
1/5
Resilience:
4/5
Speed:
1/5
Collaboration:
1/5
Extremely rigid, change-resistant
Available Upgrade Paths:
→ Tundra
Easy
Introduce basic flexibility while maintaining strong governance.
Key Changes Needed:
- Create pilot programs
- Introduce limited autonomy
- Implement change management
You'll Gain:
- Limited innovation capacity
- Better employee engagement
- Gradual improvement
Trade-offs (Good & Not):
- Some control
- Predictability
- Risk aversion
🚧 This archetype has limited evolution paths due to extreme rigidity