The Value Creators Podcast Episode #59. How to Build a Self-Managed Organization: A Conversation with Doug Kirkpatrick

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Can companies operate effectively without bosses, titles, or hierarchies? How can organizations empower employees to take full ownership of their roles while maintaining accountability and productivity?

In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Doug Kirkpatrick, author of The No Limits Enterprise and a pioneer of self-management. Doug shares his experience implementing self-management at The Morning Star Company, a firm that scaled successfully without traditional managers or management.

Key insights include:

  • The two core principles that enable a self-managed organization: no coercion and keeping commitments.
  • How the Colleague Letter of Understanding (CLOU) replaces job descriptions and performance reviews.
  • Why bureaucratic hierarchies are outdated and how eliminating them enhances agility and innovation.
  • The evolving role of leadership as facilitators rather than controllers.
  • The connection between self-management, trust, and high business performance.
  • How AI and digital transformation are making self-management more relevant than ever.

For business leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to rethink traditional management, this episode offers a compelling look at the future of work. Discover how to transition from a control-based hierarchy to a high-trust, self-managed enterprise.

Resources:

➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course

Connect with Doug on LinkedIn

Read Doug’s Blog on “The Future of Work”

Get Doug’s Book The No-Limits Enterprise

Read Morning Star’s Success Story

Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn

The Value Creators on Substack

Knowledge Capsule:

1. The Concept of Self-Management in Organizations

  • Self-management eliminates traditional hierarchies, empowering employees to operate autonomously.
  • It shifts decision-making authority from managers to individuals who have the most direct information.
  • This model fosters a high level of accountability and engagement among employees.

2. The Origins of Self-Management at The Morning Star Company

  • The company was built on two core principles: no coercion and keeping commitments.
  • Employees negotiated their roles and responsibilities, replacing the need for managers.
  • The system proved highly effective, leading to The Morning Star Company’’s emergence as the leading self-managed enterprise.

3. The Traditional Management Hierarchy has outlined its usefulness

  • Modern corporate management evolved from 19th-century Prussian Military organization and rigid command-and-control methodologies designed to prevent railway accidents by taking away all judgment and discretion from operators.
  • Bureaucratic hierarchies, initially designed for efficiency, have become barriers to innovation and responsiveness.
  • Employees on the frontlines often have the best information but are constrained by rigid decision-making structures.

4. Individual Autonomy is the New Source Of Power and Energy in Business

  • Workers make complex life decisions (marriage, finances, education) without a boss—why not at work?
  • Empowering employees to act autonomously unlocks creativity, problem-solving, and ownership.
  • Organizations benefit from increased agility and reduced micromanagement.

5. Commitment is the key

  • Agreements between colleagues replace traditional job descriptions and performance reviews.
  • Employees voluntarily commit to responsibilities, creating accountability without the need for managerial oversight.
  • The key is to negotiate these mutual responsibilities in complete detail and precision so that each party knows exactly what is expected with no grey area.
  • A culture of trust and mutual reliance emerges from these agreements.

6. The Colleague Letter of Understanding (CLOU)

  • The CLOU is a self-negotiated document detailing an employee’s responsibilities and decision-making authority.
  • It aligns personal goals with company objectives, reinforcing the principles of self-management.
  • This system builds a resilient, adaptable organizational structure.

7. The Elimination of Bureaucracy

  • Traditional bureaucratic layers create inefficiency and stifle innovation.
  • Self-managed companies reduce or eliminate unnecessary administrative burdens.
  • Compliance with external regulations remains, but internal red tape is minimized.

8. Leaders don’t control, they facilitate

  • Leaders in self-managed organizations act as mentors and facilitators rather than decision-makers.
  • They focus on creating environments where employees thrive rather than directing their work.
  • This shift enhances problem-solving capabilities and employee engagement.

9. Self-Managed Enterprises Work Because of Trust

  • Trust is fundamental to successful self-management, replacing control-based oversight.
  • Employees must honor their commitments, fostering a culture of reliability and performance.
  • Organizations that master trust-building gain a significant competitive advantage.

10. Self-Managed Organizations are High-Performance

  • Companies with strong self-management principles achieve high performance and resilience.
  • Employees take ownership of their roles, improving efficiency and innovation.
  • The model enhances customer satisfaction by empowering employees to make direct decisions.

11. Self-Management is right for the Age of AI and Digital Work

  • Traditional management structures will struggle to keep up with AI and digital transformation.
  • Self-managed systems integrate seamlessly with AI tools, leveraging technology for individual decision-making.
  • The future of work is shifting toward more decentralized, autonomous structures.

12. How to Implement Self-Management in a Traditional Organization

  • Start with a small experiment or a single business unit before scaling.
  • Secure leadership buy-in and ensure alignment with core company values.
  • Foster a culture of transparency, trust, and accountability to support the transition.

The Value Creators Podcast Episode #58. How to Recognize and Overcome Selfish Leadership: A Conversation with Josefine Campbell

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What if the traditional view of leadership—an individual who is assertively bold, visionary, and all-powerful—was actually harmful? What if leadership is not about commanding authority but interpersonal relationships, collaboration, self-awareness, and authenticity?

In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Josefine Campbell, international business coach and author of 12 Tools for Managing a Selfish Leader: Unlocking Authenticity for Resilience. Josefine shares how toxic leadership dynamics can damage organizations and individuals—and how employees and leaders alike can protect themselves and build resilience.

Key insights include:

  • Why the traditional leadership myth is outdated and how a more human-centered approach is needed.
  • How selfish leaders manipulate employees and erode company culture.
  • The role of energy management in maintaining resilience against toxic leadership.
  • Why self-awareness and authenticity are essential for outstanding leadership.
  • The importance of corporate culture in preventing toxic leadership behaviors.
  • Practical tools like the Awareness Matrix and Values Lighthouse to help individuals navigate difficult leadership situations.

Whether you’re a leader striving to improve or an employee dealing with a challenging manager, this episode offers valuable tools to foster authenticity, resilience, and ethical leadership. Learn how to protect yourself from toxic leadership and embrace a leadership model that works for the 21st century.

Resources:

➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course

Visit josefinecampbell.com

Connect with Josefine on LinkedIn

Sign Up To Josefine’s Newsletter

Check Out Josefine’s books:

12 Tools for Managing a Selfish Leader

Power Barometer: How To Manage Personal Energy For Business Success

Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn

The Value Creators on Substack

Knowledge Capsule:

1. Rethinking Leadership: Moving Beyond Traditional Views

  • Traditional leadership is often portrayed as visionary individuals with bold strategies guiding organizations.
  • This myth creates unrealistic expectations and often leads to toxic leadership styles.
  • True leadership is more collaborative, human-centered, and rooted in interpersonal relationships.

2. The Role of Personal Presence in Leadership

  • Leadership is personal—your voice, demeanor, and authenticity impact how people follow you.
  • Strategies and visions only succeed if they are effectively communicated and embraced by people.
  • Leadership is not about enforcing authority but about inspiring and motivating individuals.

3. The Persistence of Hierarchy in Business Organizations

  • Despite experiments with alternative structures, hierarchy remains the dominant organizational model.
  • Matrix structures, self-managed organizations, and agile methods have been explored but come with their own challenges.
  • Future organizational models need to balance flexibility with the need for clarity and coordination.

4. The Pitfalls of Decision-Making in Leadership

  • Leaders must make tough decisions under uncertainty, often facing disagreement.
  • Data-driven decision-making is important but insufficient; intuition and empathy play critical roles.
  • Leaders must navigate complex trade-offs and avoid becoming emotionally detached.

5. The Problem of Selfish Leadership in Organizations

  • Some leaders prioritize personal gain over team success, leading to manipulation and toxic work environments.
  • Selfish leaders lack genuine empathy but can be highly strategic in influencing others.
  • They negatively impact company culture, employee engagement, and long-term business performance.

6. The Impact of Selfish Leadership on Team Members

  • Employees often feel trapped in toxic leadership environments, leading to stress and disengagement.
  • Recognizing manipulative behaviors is crucial to protecting personal well-being.
  • Employees can develop resilience and coping strategies to navigate difficult leadership dynamics.

7. Managing Energy as a Defense Against Toxic Leadership

  • Energy management is essential for resilience, as dealing with selfish leaders is emotionally draining.
  • Leaders and employees must maintain energy balance through rest, nutrition, and positive activities.
  • Recognizing personal energy levels helps individuals stay focused and avoid burnout.

8. The Power of Self-Awareness in Leadership

  • Self-awareness is a key factor in effective leadership and emotional intelligence.
  • Leaders who reflect on their behaviors and decisions foster healthier work environments.
  • Employees can use self-awareness to recognize when they are being manipulated and respond accordingly.

9. The Importance of Authenticity in Leadership

  • Authentic leaders align their actions with their values and beliefs.
  • Discovering and embracing core values helps leaders make better decisions and inspire others.
  • Authenticity fosters trust, collaboration, and long-term effectiveness in leadership roles.

10. Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Leadership

  • Leaders often face situations where they must compromise values or make morally challenging decisions.
  • Understanding one’s values and ethical boundaries is crucial for maintaining integrity.
  • Having the moral courage to stand by ethical principles is essential for long-term success.

11. Corporate Culture as a Defense Against Toxic Leadership

  • Organizations must establish clear behavioral norms and expectations for leaders.
  • Companies with well-defined cultural values (e.g., IKEA, Novo Nordisk) are more resistant to toxic leadership.
  • Aligning leadership evaluations with company culture ensures accountability.

12. Practical Tools for Overcoming Toxic Leadership

  • Tools like the Awareness Matrix help individuals navigate difficult leadership dynamics.
  • The Values Lighthouse Exercise aids in identifying and prioritizing personal values.
  • Developing self-awareness, adaptability, and resilience helps individuals manage workplace challenges effectively.

A new model of business organization: the sentient enteprise.

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Co-authored with Mark Beliczky.

The 21st-century business landscape is characterized by complexity, volatility, and rapid change. Traditional hierarchical corporations, structured as rigid bureaucracies, often struggle to adapt to the demands of a digital, hyper-connected, and AI-driven world. The Sentient Enterprise represents a paradigm shift in organizational design—integrating real-time sensing, decentralized decision-making, and continuous learning to function as a living, intelligent ecosystem (Beer, 1972; Morin, 2008; Alsagheer et al., 2023). 

This essay explores the Sentient Enterprise as a breakthrough concept in organizational design and delves into the technological, cultural, and strategic shifts necessary to build and sustain such enterprises, providing business leaders with actionable insights that challenge conventional wisdom and redefine the future of enterprise strategy. An original Sentient Enterprise Framework (SEF) is introduced to serve as a conceptual foundation for organizations aspiring to evolve beyond traditional structures (Laloux, 2014; Kwasek et al., 2024). 

Theoretical Foundation of Sentient Enterprises 

Sentient Enterprises are rooted in theories of organizational cybernetics (Beer, 1972), complexity (Morin, 2008), and self-organizing systems (Prigogine, 1997). Unlike traditional command-and-control structures and even more recent networked systems, they are informed by principles from system dynamics, non-linear adaptation, and real-time data intelligence. By leveraging artificial intelligence, behavioral economics, and neuroscientific insights, Sentient Enterprises establish a decision-making model that parallels biological cognition (Kauffman, 1993; Vincent, 2021). This positions them as the next evolutionary step beyond agile organizations and networks of competence (Bonabeau, Dorigo, & Theraulaz, 1999; Tang, Walters, & Zeng, 2004). 

Natural Systems Are Sentient and Adaptive  

The best models for modern organizations come not from outdated corporate structures but from nature itself. Sentient Enterprises resemble dynamic, self-regulating systems such as neural networks, swarm intelligence, and ecosystems.

  • Neural Networks: The brain constantly rewires itself based on experience and feedback loops, mirroring how Sentient Enterprises absorb, distribute, and act on knowledge dynamically (Holland, 1998; Dobre & Hăhăianu, 2016).
  • Swarm Intelligence: Just as birds adjust their flight paths without waiting for commands, Sentient Enterprises enable teams to act autonomously while remaining aligned with the enterprise’s core purpose (Bonabeau et al., 1999).
  • Ecosystems: Natural systems adjust to shifts, and similarly, Sentient Enterprises adapt to market conditions, customer needs, and technological evolution (Kauffman, 1993). 

Expanding the Sentient Enterprise Framework

The Sentient Enterprise Framework (SEF) consists of five interdependent components: 

  1. Continuous Sensing & Intelligence: Organizations must develop an infrastructure capable of continuously collecting and interpreting data from internal and external sources. AI-driven analytics, IoT, and cloud computing play crucial roles in enabling real-time situational awareness (Brynjolfsson & McAfee, 2014; Althati, Malaiyappan, & Shanmugam, 2024).
  2. Decentralized & Adaptive Decision-Making: Decisions emerge and authority shifts from hierarchical oversight to distributed nodes of expertise. Leveraging decentralized autonomous systems and blockchain technologies ensures that decisions are made at the closest point of relevance, enhancing agility and responsiveness (Tapscott & Tapscott, 2016; Alsagheer et al., 2023).
  3. Continuous Learning & Evolution: The ability to self-correct and evolve based on past decisions and market conditions is key. Implementing reinforcement learning algorithms and digital twins enables organizations to simulate, learn, and iterate continuously (Mitchell, 2009; Bhuvan, 2024).
  4. Human-Centric & Emotionally Intelligent Individuals: Organizational culture will need to align with principles of freedom, collaboration, and trust. Team member engagement and innovation autonomy lead to enhanced resilience and sustained competitive advantage (Pink, 2009).
  5. Networked & Fluid Organizational Structures: Traditional command-and-control structures give way to fluid, cross-functional teams that form and dissolve as needed. Drawing from agile methodologies, Sentient Enterprises use dynamic work networks to facilitate responsiveness and innovation (Laloux, 2014; Badmus et al., 2024). 

Case Studies: The Evolution of Sentient Enterprises in Action 

The evolution of Spotify’s squad model demonstrates how decentralized, autonomous teams can drive rapid product innovation while maintaining coherence within an overarching enterprise structure (Kniberg & Ivarsson, 2012). Netflix’s AI-driven personalization algorithms exemplify real-time learning, where customer behaviors inform iterative content adaptation and recommendation engines (Hastings, 2020). Toyota’s adaptive production system showcases the power of continuous improvement, where frontline team members have the freedom to implement efficiency changes dynamically (Liker, 2004). Temu and Nvidia’s AI-driven logistics and design automation highlight real-time adaptation and efficiency through deep learning applications (Huang, 2022). Buurtzorg’s self-managed teams in healthcare redefine how patient-centered care can scale efficiently through decentralized decision-making (de Blok, 2018). 

Addressing Criticisms: Sentient Enterprises vs. Networks of Competence 

Critics may argue that Sentient Enterprises risk diluting expertise in pursuit of speed, leading to potential decision instability in regulated industries (Tushman & O’Reilly, 1996). However, their fundamental advantage lies in the ability to dynamically redistribute expertise where needed in real time, eliminating reliance on predefined knowledge hierarchies (Holland, 1998; Wang, Huang, & Zhang, 2019). In contrast, Networks of Competence require periodic reconfigurations of expertise networks, limiting their ability to pivot at high velocity (Snowden & Boone, 2007). 

The Future of Sentient Enterprises 

The trajectory of Sentient Enterprises extends beyond corporate management into public sector governance, education, and global policymaking. Future iterations will likely integrate biologically-inspired AI, quantum computing, and edge intelligence, allowing organizations to function as fully autonomous, self-evolving entities (Mitchell, 2009; Makropoulos & Bouziotas, 2023). Research will need to continue in AI governance, predictive analytics, and ethical decision automation to ensure sustainable adoption (Sutton & Barto, 2018). 

Conclusion 

The transition to Sentient Enterprises is no longer a futuristic aspiration but a strategic imperative. As industries face unprecedented complexity and disruption, organizations will need to rethink how intelligence, decision-making, and learning function within dynamic business ecosystems. Those that embrace real-time intelligence, fluid adaptability, and human-centric autonomy will define the next frontier of competitive advantage. 

Co-authors: Mark Beliczky and Hunter Hastings

References 

Alsagheer, D., Diallo, N., Karanjai, R., Xu, L., & Shi, L. (2023). On decentralized governance of machine learning and AI. Retrieved from 

Althati, C., Malaiyappan, J. N. A., & Shanmugam, L. (2024). AI-Driven Analytics: Transforming Data Platforms for Real-Time Decision Making. Journal of Artificial Intelligence General Science. 

Badmus, O., Anas, S., Arogundade, J. B., & Williams, M. (2024). AI-driven business analytics and decision making. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews. 

Beer, S. (1972). Brain of the firm. Wiley. 

Bonabeau, E., Dorigo, M., & Theraulaz, G. (1999). Swarm intelligence: From natural to artificial systems. Oxford University Press.

Brynjolfsson, E., & McAfee, A. (2014). The second machine age: Work, progress, and prosperity in a time of brilliant technologies. W. W. Norton & Company. 

Bhuvan, S. (2024). The impact of AI and ML on organizational structure. ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts. 

Dobre, T., & Hăhăianu, F. (2016). Increasing organizational intelligence – A technology-based learning model. eLearning and Software for Education. 

de Blok, J. (2018). Buurtzorg: Humanity above bureaucracy. Routledge. 

Hastings, R. (2020). No rules rules: Netflix and the culture of reinvention. Penguin.

 Holland, J. H. (1998). Emergence: From chaos to order. Oxford University Press.

Huang, J. (2022). The rise of AI-driven design and logistics at Nvidia. AI & Technology Review. 

Kauffman, S. A. (1993). The origins of order: Self-organization and selection in evolution. Oxford University Press. 

Kniberg, H., & Ivarsson, A. (2012). Scaling agile at Spotify: The squad model. Agile Journal. 

Kwasek, A., Kocot, M., Kocot, D., Maciaszczyk, M., & Rogozinska-Mitrut, J. (2024). The role of artificial intelligence in agile organization management. European Research Studies Journal. 

Laloux, F. (2014). Reinventing organizations: A guide to creating organizations inspired by the next stage of human consciousness. Nelson Parker. 

Liker, J. K. (2004). The Toyota way: 14 management principles from the world’s greatest manufacturer. McGraw-Hill. 

Makropoulos, C., & Bouziotas, D. (2023). Artificial intelligence for decentralized water systems: A smart planning agent based on reinforcement learning for off-grid camp water infrastructures. Journal of Hydroinformatics. 

Mitchell, M. (2009). Complexity: A guided tour. Oxford University Press. 

Morin, E. (2008). On complexity. Hampton Press. 

Nonaka, I., & Takeuchi, H. (1995). The knowledge-creating company: How Japanese companies create the dynamics of innovation. Oxford University Press. 

Pink, D. H. (2009). Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us. Riverhead Books. 

Prigogine, I. (1997). The end of certainty: Time, chaos, and the new laws of nature. Free Press. 

Snowden, D. J., & Boone, M. E. (2007). A leader’s framework for decision making. Harvard Business Review, 85(11), 68–76. 

Sutton, R. S., & Barto, A. G. (2018). Reinforcement learning: An introduction (2nd ed.). MIT Press. 

Tapscott, D., & Tapscott, A. (2016). Blockchain revolution: How the technology behind bitcoin is changing money, business, and the world. Penguin. 

Tang, Z., Walters, B. A., & Zeng, X. (2004). A framework of intelligence infrastructure supported by intelligent agents. Idea Group Publishing. 

Tushman, M. L., & O’Reilly, C. A. (1996). Winning through innovation: A practical guide to leading organizational change and renewal. Harvard Business Review Press. 

Vincent, V. U. (2021). Integrating intuition and artificial intelligence in organizational decision-making. Business Horizons. ` 

Wang, H., Huang, X., & Zhang, Z. (2019). The impact of deep learning on organizational agility.

The Value Creators Podcast Episode #57. How to Enable a Kinetic Flow State Organization: A Conversation with Mark Beliczky

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How can businesses shift from rigid, hierarchical structures to agile, fast-moving organizations that adapt to change effortlessly? What if businesses could remove bottlenecks, eliminate bureaucracy, and enable knowledge to flow freely—boosting innovation and engagement?

In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Mark Beliczky, co-creator of the Kinetic Flow State Organization (KFSO) model. Mark explains why traditional business structures are failing in today’s dynamic market and how KFSOs enable companies to replace control with continuous motion and adaptability.

Mark served as President and CEO of ProHome Holdings, LLC, and in Executive Management roles at The Carlyle Group. He was the Founder, President & CEO of Salus Sciences, LLC, and held senior executive positions with PepsiCo, UBS, Citigroup, Sunrise Senior Living and other companies. He has been engaged in numerous business start-ups, turnarounds, transformations, and acquisitions/ mergers. Mark is a Fellow at the Strategic Management Forum, and a member of the American Academy of Management and the International Leadership Association. He holds an MBA from Loyola University, is a graduate of Heidelberg University, and has a faculty appointment at Georgetown University. He has authored over 120 articles on leadership, management, culture and performance excellence, and has led numerous leadership seminars and been a speaker at global leadership forums.

Key Episode insights include:

  • Why legacy business models—designed for stability—fail in today’s high-speed market.
  • How a KFSO enables real-time knowledge flow, decision-making, and adaptability.
  • The two key components of a KFSO: kinetics (momentum) and flow (barrier elimination).
  • How psychological safety and real-time feedback drive innovation and employee engagement.
  • The shift from top-down leadership to dynamic, expertise-driven leadership.
  • The step-by-step process for transitioning from a legacy model to a KFSO.

For business leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone rethinking organizational design, this episode offers a blueprint for creating a company that moves fast, innovates freely, and thrives in an era of continuous change. Discover how to enable a Kinetic Flow State Organization designed for the future.

Resources:

➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course

Connect with Mark Beliczky on LinkedIn

Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn

The Value Creators on Substack

Read Mark’s Articles:

The New Organizational Model That Is Needed For The 21st Century

Reimagining Organizational Structures for the 21st Century: The Agility Advantage

Adapting for Success: The Organizational Shift Every 21st Century Business Needs

The Evolution of Agile and the Rise of Enterprise Flow Organizations

Knowledge Capsule:

1. The Failure of the Traditional Business Organization

  • Legacy business structures prioritize control, predictability, and efficiency but struggle in today’s fast-moving environment.
  • Hierarchical bottlenecks, silos, and rigid job roles slow down decision-making and stifle innovation.
  • Traditional organizations optimize for stability rather than adaptability, making them ill-equipped for rapid change.

2. The Modern Business Environment Demands Change

  • Digital disruption, globalization, and shifting customer expectations require businesses to be highly responsive and flexible.
  • The modern workforce values autonomy, purpose, and meaningful work over bureaucratic oversight.
  • Speed, fluidity, and adaptability are now key determinants of competitive advantage.

3. Introducing the Kinetic Flow State Organization (KFSO)

  • A Kinetic Flow State Organization (KFSO) replaces rigidity with momentum and adaptability.
  • The model enables the free flow of knowledge, people, and ideas in real time, promoting innovation and agility.
  • Unlike traditional structures, a KFSO proactively shapes change rather than merely reacting to it.

4. Kinetics: The Power of Continuous Motion

  • A KFSO operates on Newton’s First Law of Motion: organizations in motion stay in motion.
  • Continuous adaptation ensures businesses evolve with changing market dynamics.
  • Decentralized decision-making allows teams to act quickly without waiting for top-down approval.

5. Flow: The Elimination of Barriers

  • Flow is enabled by identifying and removing obstacles that slow down knowledge, decision-making, and innovation.
  • Barriers exist at multiple levels: structural (hierarchies), procedural (bureaucracy), cultural (fear of failure), and technological (siloed data).
  • By eliminating friction, organizations increase autonomy, adaptability, and collaboration.

6. Leadership in a KFSO: From Command to Enablement

  • Leadership shifts from control-based authority to facilitation, guidance, and empowerment.
  • Leaders focus on removing obstacles, enabling teams, and fostering real-time knowledge flow.
  • Dynamic leadership allows expertise-based, situational leadership to replace rigid top-down hierarchy.

7. Knowledge Flow as a Competitive Advantage

  • A KFSO treats knowledge as its primary energy source, fueling decision-making, innovation, and value creation.
  • Explicit knowledge flow: Structured information like reports and best practices.
  • Tacit knowledge flow: Experience-based insights from real-time collaboration.
  • Real-time knowledge flow: Immediate feedback, market signals, and performance analytics ensure constant adaptation.

8. The Role of Psychological Safety and Experimentation

  • Fear-based cultures suppress innovation and engagement; KFSOs create environments where mistakes lead to learning.
  • Iterative test-and-learn approaches replace rigid long-term planning.
  • Employees take ownership of their work without fear of punishment for failure.

9. Real-Time Feedback and Decision-Making

  • Traditional organizations rely on annual reviews and slow reporting cycles; KFSOs implement continuous real-time feedback loops.
  • Decision-making is distributed to those closest to the action rather than concentrated at the top.
  • Regular standup meetings, deep-dive problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration replace outdated reporting structures.

10. Engagement: The Missing Piece in Traditional Organizations

  • Only 23% of employees worldwide are engaged at work (data from Gallup), with bureaucracy and rigid structures cited as key reasons for disengagement.
  • KFSOs create environments where employees feel ownership, connection to purpose, and autonomy in their roles.
  • A sense of psychological safety encourages creativity, experimentation, and sustained engagement.

11. Alignment Without Control: Freedom Within a Framework

  • Traditional organizations enforce alignment through rigid rules and oversight.
  • KFSOs achieve alignment through shared purpose, principles over prescriptions, and real-time communication.
  • Employees operate autonomously within a strategic direction, not micromanagement.

12. How Organizations Can Transition to a KFSO

  • The shift to a KFSO won’t happen overnight; organizations must adopt an iterative, wave-based approach.
  • Some startups and digital-native firms already operate with KFSO principles, while legacy businesses must dismantle bureaucratic barriers.
  • The transition starts with small-scale experiments, removing bottlenecks, and shifting mindsets toward autonomy and adaptability.

Organizational Design Is The New Innovation Frontier.

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There is a tendency to think about business innovation as focused on technological change and the new business models to bring that change to customers in order to serve them better. That’s certainly the entrepreneurial mindset of most companies and is typified by the tech giants of Silicon Valley.

In the AI community, which is a highly active field of innovation at the moment, the conversation is often phrased in the terminology of the frontier of change, and frontier models, referring to the stair-step breakthroughs to new levels of performance which seem to occur with rapid frequency.

The Value Creators is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

When the Chinese AI firm called Deepseek recently unveiled its latest model, it was evaluated in that context: was it a new technological frontier? The general opinion is no – it represents some surprising advances in the quality of output achieved relative to the cost of development and what the AI community calls “training”, but hasn’t reached a new performance frontier.

Here’s what a lot of analysts seem to be missing, however. Deepseek may represent breakthrough innovation on a different and possibly more important frontier, that of organizational design. The Deepseek model was developed by a business unit with

no management,

no business administration,

no resource allocation methods,

no levels and no hierarchy,

no structure,

no fixed roles,

no titles,

no KPI’s,

no targets, and

no politicized competition to climb the corporate ladder.

All of the traditional trappings of Western business administration have been thrown out.

This suggests that there is a new frontier of innovation, that of organizational design and business management.

Deepseek’s replacements for administration are manifold and represent a completely new system.

Freedom

In place of business administration, Deepseek’s founder speaks of freedom – freedom to pursue exceptional accomplishment. This is the enabling incentive for individuals, teams and the firm. No one can plan in advance where this freedom will lead. There is only the beacon of exceptional accomplishment to aim for, without any false quantification of what that might be. Will people be happy with what they accomplish? Freedom enables them to find out.

Spontaneous division of labor

How is freedom organized? It isn’t. At Deepseek, there is a spontaneous division of labor in which individuals create ideas, teams form and unform in developing those ideas, and cross-team collaboration occurs as it’s prompted by the evolution of ideas. Individuals are recruited to teams, or they migrate to a team that they’re aligned with. There’s no HR Department, no job description, no bosses with instructions on how and where and when to work and with whom.

Discovery versus targets

The traditional Western form of management includes the setting of targets against which to measure outcomes. Individuals are given targets, teams are given targets, firms set annual targets. Deepseek eschews this form of management. The alternative to plans and targets is mission-driven discovery. The mission is AGI, the pathway to it is uncertain and unmapped, and the method of progress is idea-inspired experimentation to discover possible next steps. Discovery is action-driven, not target-driven.

Teams form around ideas

Teams have become a central tenet of advanced organization, built on a project management mindset. Teams are assembled around project goals, with the expertise to address identified project needs and the goal of completing the project. Deepseek assembles teams around ideas. Any individual can originate an idea and the team assembles around exploration and experimentation to discover where the idea might lead. It might lead nowhere, in which case the team can reassemble around another idea, or it might lead somewhere unexpected, in which case the team can reconfigure. Teams can collaborate across boundaries, so a team is not an exclusive concept but a self-assembling stream of expertise that can flow in multiple directions.

Transparency and knowledge-sharing

Conventional management concepts assume that specialized knowledge can and should be held and focused in departments, areas of expertise, or dedicated projects. At Deepseek, the preference is for total transparency and unfettered knowledge sharing. Every individual has access to all the firm’s knowledge without restriction. Know-how is accumulated and shared as a firm-wide asset.

Resources versus resourcefulness

One of the traditional tasks of management is resource allocation – deciding who gets to utilize the firm’s resources. At Deepseek, every individual and team has access to the firm’s resources, without permission or planning required. An idea can command the GPU’s and compute time needed to validate it. The productivity variable then shifts to resourcefulness versus resources.

It appears that Deepseek was able to develop their AI models effectively despite restrictions on their access to Nvidia chips – which is evidence of their system’s resourcefulness in the context of limited resources. Their Mixture-of-Experts architecture, while not new, has been impactful in cost reduction and efficiency, leading to a resurgence of interest in this kind of model.

Eliminate the politics of competition

To “climb the corporate ladder” in a Western corporation is to engage in a political competition with peers to gain recognition, assert superiority and to individually break away from the pack. The Deepseek model – and perhaps the Chinese model – is to aim for collective effort and collective impact. The collective wins via exceptional achievement in a context of mission alignment and shared purpose. Teams share insights openly in order to accelerate innovation for the group as a whole. The kind of political competition that can destroy cultural coherence is not admitted.

Passion over Experience

Deepseek founder Liang Wenfeng has indicated a preference for youthful passion over experience, whereas the latter is usually key to hiring preferences in traditional management. Experience, he says, brings baggage that can weigh heavily on open-ended exploration. For short-term goals, hiring experienced individuals makes sense. But long-term success does not depend on past experiences. Rather, it depends more on foundational skills, creativity and passion.

The New Frontier.

In Liang Wenfeng’s view, organization is not just an innovation frontier, it’s the ultimate source of competitive advantage. He said, “In disruptive tech, closed-source moats are fleeting. Our real moat lies in our team’s growth – accumulating know-how, fostering an innovative culture”.

KFSOs

The Deepseek organizational model may point in a direction Western firms should follow. It represents a different management culture, disruptive organizational thinking and an iconoclastic approach to conventional wisdom. The Kinetic Flow State Organization design that Mark Beliczky and I have encouraged firms to pursue is directionally aligned with Deepseek. Deepseek’s willingness to freely explore in multiple directions and adjust rapidly to feedback generated by continuous experimentation is highly kinetic. Its knowledge flow is accelerated by the removal of barriers, including management layers, planning, and resource allocation protocols. Its passionate young researchers achieve personal flow states in their energetic commitment to the challenging task of searching for a pathway to AGI.

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The Value Creators Podcast Episode #56. How to Build a Scalable Real Estate Empire: A Conversation with Ivan Barratt

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Real estate is more than buying and selling properties—it’s about creating value for tenants, investors, and communities. How do you scale a real estate business from a single duplex to managing thousands of units? How do you navigate economic cycles while ensuring consistent returns for stakeholders?

In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Ivan Barratt, founder of BAM Capital, about his entrepreneurial journey and the principles that have driven his success in the real estate industry.

Key insights include:

  • How Ivan scaled his business from a duplex to managing nearly 9,000 units.
  • The importance of creating a positive workplace culture for property management success.
  • The concept of forced appreciation and its role in increasing property value.
  • Strategies for navigating economic cycles and balancing cash flow with long-term growth.
  • The potential of AI in enhancing property management while preserving human connection.

Whether you’re an aspiring real estate entrepreneur or looking to invest in multifamily housing, this episode offers valuable lessons on leveraging innovation, culture, and strategy to create lasting value. Learn how to approach real estate as a value-driven business and scale sustainably.

Resources:

➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course

Visit BAM Capital

Connect with Ivan Barratt on LinkedIn

Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn

The Value Creators on Substack

Knowledge Capsule:

1. Real Estate as a Value-Creating Business

  • Real estate, especially in rental housing, offers value by providing fundamental needs such as shelter, community, and comfort.
  • It’s a service-oriented business that benefits tenants, investors, and employees alike.

2. Ivan Barratt’s Entrepreneurial Journey

  • Ivan started his career by working for free to learn from an experienced mentor.
  • His business began with a duplex, eventually scaling to managing nearly 9,000 multifamily units.
  • The journey highlights persistence, strategic scaling, and a focus on value creation.

3. The Importance of Culture in Property Management

  • Ivan emphasizes creating a workplace where employees feel valued, which in turn enhances service quality for tenants.
  • Treating employees as invaluable contributors has been a key factor in the company’s success.

4. Value Creation Through Forced Appreciation

  • Forced appreciation involves improving properties to increase their value and attract higher-paying tenants.
  • Upgrades and repairs benefit both tenants and investors by creating better living spaces and increasing property profitability.

5. Multifamily Housing as a Core Focus

  • Ivan’s company specializes in Class A multifamily properties, which are newer, well-maintained, and cater to creditworthy tenants.
  • Class A properties offer lower risk profiles and align with investor preferences for stable, high-value assets.

6. Diversification Through Funds

  • Transitioning from single property investments to funds has allowed Ivan’s firm to offer diversification and reduce single-asset risk for investors.
  • The fund model provides flexibility and access to larger, multi-property deals.

7. Managing Economic Cycles

  • The business has weathered multiple economic corrections, using downturns as opportunities to acquire undervalued properties.
  • Liquidity and prudent financial management are critical to thriving in fluctuating markets.

8. Balancing Cash Flow and Appreciation

  • Real estate investments offer dual benefits: consistent rental income and long-term capital appreciation.
  • Ivan’s firm focuses on optimizing both cash flow for immediate returns and appreciation for long-term wealth building.

9. Strategic Property Acquisitions

  • The firm targets markets where large institutional players are less active, finding value in underpriced or poorly managed properties.
  • A disciplined approach to pricing ensures investments align with investor expectations and risk tolerance.

10. Tenant Retention and Marketing

  • Providing excellent service and responsive maintenance reduces tenant turnover.
  • Continuous marketing efforts are essential to maintaining high occupancy rates in a transient rental market.

11. The Role of Private Equity in Real Estate

  • The firm’s private equity model attracts individual and institutional investors looking for high returns through illiquid, long-term investments.
  • Strategies such as leveraging endowments and retirement funds have expanded investment opportunities.

12. The Future of AI in Property Management

  • AI is expected to enhance team productivity and improve tenant services through automation and data insights.
  • Despite technological advancements, Ivan believes human connection will remain a key differentiator in creating community value.