Corporate

A startup company dilemma: adopting change to ensure success

By Beth Warner

One of the many challenges a startup company experiences in developing their product is the acceptance that past production processes can no longer be applied in today’s complex manufacturing environments. Startup entrepreneurs are faced with the difficult decision to either avoid or adopt change as they move through their growth curve.

As Chad Jackson from Lifecycle Insights demonstrates in the on-demand webinar “Building a strong digital foundation for startups“, there are trade-offs to this dilemma:

A startup executive's dilemma with adopting or avoiding change

This begs the question: do you adopt change by taking on new processes and practices that may delay a product introduction and increase costs, or do you avoid change and remain in a reactive state, fixing fires as they pop up to minimize costs?

Each path is not without its risks, as adopting change may lead to pushback from stakeholders resistant to dramatic adjustments in the organization. Avoiding change however, while easier in the short term, may lead a startup company down the path to failure.

What is the cost of avoiding change for startup companies?

With so many external factors affecting the marketplace, startups should be addressing shortcomings early in the process and adjusting strategies along the way.

The cost of avoiding change for startup companies

Startup software solutions

In product development, every change made to a tool, process or even your organizational structure can result in a setback. Manufacturers should focus on building their business on a solid, digital foundation with software solutions that provide flexibility at every stage of your business’s growth. Digital product development tools are now easy to access and can give you a distinct advantage over your competitors. It’s critical to select a solution provider that can grow with you as you expand.

A digital twin for startup programs

A progressive approach to tackling this issue is to maintain a comprehensive digital twin that tracks how design definitions change over time. By referring to these definitions, team members can coordinate their activities effectively and continuously throughout the development process. Creating a digital twin enables the product development team to be on the same page and avoid unnecessary delays close to the release deadline.

Selecting the right tools that will grow with you, and don’t require consistent upkeep is crucial at this stage of your business.

To learn more about how your startup company can ensure success with digital software, watch the on-demand webinar or read the ebook by Lifecycle Insights:


Learn more about growing your startup to its full potential with Siemens software solutions for startups.

Check out the other blogs in this series about building a strong digital foundation for startups:

How the Shift Toward Smart, Connected Products Impacts Startup Companies

How to Solve Complexity Issues Facing Startups

Why You Need a Stable Digital Foundation for Your Startup Company

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This article first appeared on the Siemens Digital Industries Software blog at https://blogs.sw.siemens.com/small-medium-business/2022/02/07/a-startup-company-dilemma-adopting-change-to-ensure-success/