13 Questions
Which of the following is a self-reinforcing process that can occur in a Death Valley scenario?
Declining performance standards
What is a characteristic of agents in the principal-agent problem?
They avoid performance transparency
Why do agents feel resistance to making the result clear?
It means taking on painful responsibility
What can happen if a fake effort is rewarded in a team?
Cheating becomes a Nash stable strategy
What is a potential risk in a Death Valley scenario?
A stock bubble burst
What is the 'Death Valley' in the context of startups?
A decline in the probability of achieving product-market-timing fit
What is the likelihood of a startup making it to an IPO, according to the text?
1 in 10,000
What happened to Maxim Faldin and Wikimart, as mentioned in the text?
Maxim Faldin declared personal bankruptcy, and Wikimart lost investments
What does the author mean by 'Comfort is Suicide'?
Being comfortable leads to failure in startups
Which of the following is true about teammates helpful to jump through death valley?
Teammates immediately question someone who provides vague or misleading information
Based on the text, why are some employees engaged in talking behind the back?
Tacitly collude against supervisors and the entire team
What is the preferred response of teammates when receiving feedback?
Teammates accept feedback
How to support the strategy "to keep tasks transparent and deliver" to be Nash stable?
Insist to make a task transparent on standup if it is not in Story format
Study Notes
Death Valley Scenario
- A self-reinforcing process that can occur in a Death Valley scenario is a fake effort being rewarded in a team, leading to more fake effort.
- A potential risk in a Death Valley scenario is that the team might not be able to deliver due to lack of transparency and fake efforts.
Principal-Agent Problem
- A characteristic of agents in the principal-agent problem is that they feel resistance to making the result clear.
- Agents may not provide clear results due to their own interests and biases.
Team Dynamics
- If a fake effort is rewarded in a team, it can lead to more fake efforts and a lack of actual progress.
- Teammates who are helpful in jumping through Death Valley are those who provide clear and honest feedback.
- Some employees engage in talking behind the back due to a lack of transparency and trust within the team.
- The preferred response of teammates when receiving feedback is to take it constructively and make necessary changes.
Startup Success
- The 'Death Valley' in the context of startups refers to the challenging phase of a startup's journey where it is struggling to survive.
- The likelihood of a startup making it to an IPO is very low, with only a few successful startups making it to this stage.
Case Study
- Maxim Faldin and Wikimart, as mentioned in the text, are examples of startups that failed to overcome the Death Valley phase.
Strategy
- The author means that 'Comfort is Suicide' in the sense that if a team becomes too comfortable, it can lead to complacency and a lack of innovation, ultimately leading to failure.
- To support the strategy "to keep tasks transparent and deliver" to be Nash stable, it is essential to encourage clear communication, honest feedback, and a culture of trust within the team.
Test your knowledge about the rise and fall of Wikimart, Russia's Amazon equivalent, and the bankruptcy of its founder Maxim Faldin. Explore the journey of this tech entrepreneur and discover key insights into the challenges faced by startups in the ever-evolving business landscape.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
