Lessons from Nature for Entrepreneurs

Image: 123rf.com

In a previous post (Birds-do-it-bees-do-it-entrepreneurs-lets-do-it-too) I presented the concept of developing a process for Entrepreneurial success that learns from how Nature does it.

I have now learnt of a new science called Biomimicry that studies nature’s models and then uses these designs and processes to solve human problems.

While I am not an expert in Biomimicry (I just barely learnt the term), I have been attempting to use its underlying concepts for designing the process for innovative ventures for a while.

What is the Design Problem:

At the heart of the Innovation problem is the lack of predictability. No previous results are available to guide the decision analytically. This is similar to the dilemma of an Entrepreneur.

Potential Approaches:

In this highly unpredictable situation, some of the potential approaches are:

A Random Process: Could a monkey typing randomly on a keyboard produce a play by William Shakespeare? Theoretically, yes. Statisticians have estimated it would take Way-too-many-umpteen years to net one play. The entire works…??? Clearly, random processes are beyond the patience of even Mother Nature. Surprising rapid pace of evolution rejects this as the strategy adopted by Nature.

Trial-and- Error: processes by themselves are equally inefficient. In evolutionary biology, Convergent Evolution is the process whereby organisms not closely related, independently evolve similar traits as a result of having to adapt to similar environments or ecological niches.

The evidence suggests more of a predictable process, in Nature, than pure random development or blind chance.

Two distinct phases of Evolution

Incremental Evolution: Biological evolution is reproduced through the information encoded in the RNA for a simple organism, or the DNA for more complex species. This information, ends up representing the genotype of the org that then produces, to form, the next generation. This is the growth strategy of an established organization.

Evolutionary Change: takes place via sequence change at the genetic level and different survival rate of the various outcomes. Innovative organizations use this strategy to keep up with the changing environment.

Mother Nature, through 3.8 Billion years of practice, has not relied on simple Random processes or un-enhanced Trial and error methods. She has devised some tricks. Entrepreneurs can also learn from those tricks.

Bio-evolution:

It is speculated that current life on Earth originated from simple non-living matter, such as simple organic compounds. It formed simple protocells that created the RNA world which had the capability of self-replicating, at least 3.5 billion years ago.

Without getting bogged down with the speculation on how these compounds created life, the central question of interest to us here is how nature drove the evolution of life. In other words, how and why RNA evolved into the DNA world and then changed to reproductive means of creating the following generations.

While organisms whose genes consist of a single strand of RNA could self-replicate, it transferred no memory to the next generation. It did however generate some random replication errors. Some of these “wild types” became better adapted to the new conditions than the previous dominant strain. With the increasing number of organisms and each replicating led to an exponential growth and when repeated an infinite number of times made the emergence of highly complex systems by chance inevitable.

Evolution continued when RNA chains began to express the basic conditions necessary for natural selection to operate as conceived by Darwin: RNAs joined smaller RNA sequences together, created the potential, in the right conditions, for self-replication. The proliferation of such sets could maintain the genetic information in in the form of DNA.

The sexual means of reproduction further accelerated the probability of “deviant” combinations, some of which were better suited to the changing world. ( See Birds-do-it-bees-do-it-entrepreneurs-let-s-do-it-too-)

Lessons from Nature for Entrepreneurs:

1. Response to Change is much faster than anticipated. Some variants, that are better adapted to the new conditions, will evolve from the previous dominant strain and rapidly change the environment. Entrepreneurs, rather than established organizations, will adapt to changing conditions much faster and their disruption will change the course of the ecosystem.
2. Clear Focus on a desired goal. Nature wants long term continuity. In this process it has evolved techniques and new means to keep evolution going. Entrepreneurs should start with a “gap”” that they have identified and focus on impacting that issue. Identify the “key” desirable characteristics of that solution. More advanced solutions will evolve from the vantage point of this experience.
3. Variants and their Survival: As the species grow the number of offsprings, that have a deviation in the form of some different RNA elements, also grows. However, they still retain and benefit from the original information. While the non-deviant organism also continues on, these deviant species tend to produce greater rewards in the changing environment. This situation reverses abruptly at a certain level of risk. When the external conditions deviate too much (beyond the “error threshold”) , then there is an abrupt reversal. All the previous information is of no value, and the non-deviant organism dies out. However, the deviant species survive to continue on. Entrepreneurs must insert a variant, that is critical to the evolving change, but still retains the knowledge of success from the previous generation. Looking for opportunities within the area of great personal experience with a solution for a pressing problem is a great source of opportunity. Over time, they need to evolve with the changing environment or they will also be vulnerable to further change or next disrupter.
4. Many Mutations: Try several mutations to test future possibilities. Several will be similar and many will fail. Nevertheless a few novel mutations lead to evolution. Entrepreneurs must Ideate many solutions to the identified opportunity. ( See Opportunity-identification-for-99-looking-for-a-needle-in-a-haystack) Conduct many experiments (trials). Evaluate results of those experiments for useful information on the essential characteristics that “fit” with the “key” characteristics. Ruthlessly, stay on misssion by quickly accepting of “intelligent failures”.
5. Diversity is a source of Robustness. This is true for all organisms. Homogeneity leads to a limited capacity to evolve with changing conditions and is a risk factor for longevity. Creating an entrepreneurial team with members in your own image leads to limited capacity for dealing with change.
6. Generalists: Rats tend to fare better than specialists, like Dodo birds in a fast changing environment. For an entrepreneur knowledge in a narrow field is not as attractive as having broad coverage, either personally or through a team.
7. Continue to Evolve. Don’t stop with one successful mutation. The only thing constant is change. Replicate the process again and again. Drive, drive, drive. Evolve in the direction of “desired” solution.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — -

I write for the benefit of 99% of the entrepreneurs , who are never going to access Venture Capital, I find that their minds have been screwed up by partial knowledge of the success creation process propagated by VC’s and their followers.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

Dr. Rajiv Tandon is an Entrepreneur, Educator and Mentor. He facilitates peer groups for CEOs of fast-growing companies in Minnesota. To learn more, sign up to get the email newsletter.