When innovation arrives, the logistics people have to scramble to keep up, because innovation always makes it hard to do things the way we used to.
Over time, an innovative company thrives if it can get its logistics in order. Ship the right stuff to the right people on time and on budget.
Once this happens, it often means that the logistics people gain in power and influence. After all, they pulled off a miracle.
Then, when the next innovation shows up, the logistics voices in the room are likely to have more say in what happens next. That’s why upstarts who feel like they have nothing to lose are so much more likely to innovate–they don’t realize how hard it is going to be.
Innovation doesn’t work without logistics.