Skunk Works
by Ben R. Rich with Leo Janos
The memoir of Lockheed's secret division: the U-2, SR-71 and F-117, and Kelly Johnson's fourteen rules for small, fast, autonomous teams. A classic on how to do impossible engineering with few people.
Read it if…
you lead technical teams and want the original model for autonomous skunkworks.
See the book →
Skip it if…
you want modern software examples.
Try instead: My Years with General Motors →
Three things you will actually use
- Small teams, full authority.
- Minimal reporting, maximal trust.
- Build prototypes fast.
Do this first
Read Kelly Johnson's fourteen rules and apply one.
Our verdict
The original skunkworks.
See the book →
Compare with other Leadership books
My Years with General Motors
Alfred P. Sloan Jr. · Leadership
The corporation's architect.
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