Page 2 - The Leadership Line: October 2023

Types of Failure

Of course, not all failures are created equal. Some failures result from negligence or a lack of
necessary skills. These kinds of mistakes should be avoided and corrected as soon as possible to
prevent further harm. However, there is another category of failures that should be celebrated
and embraced. These are the failures that result from taking calculated risks, trying new things,
and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. These failures provide invaluable insights
into what works and what doesn’t, helping you refine your approach and strategy for the next
iteration.
The key is distinguishing between these two types of failures and creating a culture that
encourages and supports the latter. A culture that allows your employees to fail fast, fail
forward, and fail better.
Celebrating the Wins &

Learning from the Setbacks
“Failure is the opportunity
to begin again, this time At MIL, we support our government clients with products and
services based on specific contract requirements. We pride ourselves
more intelligently.” in meeting and exceeding those expectations which support the
Henry Ford agencies such as the Department of State, Department of Defense,
NAVAIR, and more!

Case Study: Overcoming Challenges &

Delivering Success in the REPS Sector

Thomas Clark, Executive Vice President

In the competitive landscape of the Rapid Engineering and Prototyping Solutions (REPS)
Sector, the ability to meet and exceed client expectations is paramount. Tom Clark, leading
a dedicated team in this sector, faced a challenging situation when a project did not meet
the client’s initial expectations. However, their journey through this experience ultimately
became a valuable lesson in resilience, determination, and the importance of core values.

Challenge: Deliverable Falling Short of Client Expectations
Tom’s team was brought in to complete a project that had been initiated by
another team. This project presented unforeseen technical challenges due to
their lack of involvement in the initial requirements development, design, and
hardware selections. As a result, when they began their work, extensive testing,
troubleshooting, and rework were required to align the design with the sponsor’s
requirements. This led to additional design work, hardware procurements, and
a revised integration plan, all of which exceeded the project’s initial budget.
Unfortunately, the sponsor perceived the team as failing to complete the project
successfully, which raised concerns about increased project costs and a loss of
confidence in the team’s capabilities.