Speed of response is an innovation strategy. Or looking at the other way around, innovation is about how fast one could respond. And one could see both in action in a recent Tesla approach to problem-solving. Their typical first principles-based problem-solving.

There has been an enormous short supply of various chips and microprocessors in the market due to the supply chain issues that are ensuing. A problem initiated and perpetuated by global part distribution in COVID times and shortages from components to shipping containers/contracts.

Tesla redesigned several of its components to work with new microprocessors and technologies by rewriting their software and/or porting them over to other platforms in order to work around the chip shortages. This is an excellent innovative way to address the problem to keep their production up and running. In these times of shortages, Tesla has shown how they are still able to ship their products from the US and Chinese factories and still grow quarter to quarter.

That is true adaptability, nimbleness, and flexibility in action. And those who are unable to do that, are yet to learn the basics of survival under less than ideal conditions. And all the moaning and groaning aren’t going to help them.

Source:

Tesla rewrote its own software to survive the chip shortage - https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/26/22595060/tesla-chip-shortage-software-rewriting-ev-processor