In a follow up session to our visit to Inchcolm Abbey, we were exploring the fact that many of the islands in the Firth of Forth are known as Inches. In this context, the name Inch is derived from Innis, the Gaelic word for an island, and so Inchcolm is Gaelic for Columba’s Island.

As we drew more Dreamwork Maps, more and more islands representing different parts of the enterprise appeared, and these Inches were named correspondingly. Later in the session, as we worked our way through the strategic topography, the phrase ‘Inch by Inch’ kept being voiced.

The challenge that the innovation team was facing was one that often appears in large enterprises. Although nominally the same enterprise, organisations usually form internally into islands of self interest and intention. These self focused islands then become defended with entrenched opinions in the same way that Inchcolm was once fortified.

The group realised that the way to move beyond this damaging silo mentality was to somehow connect the island dwellers. Attempts had previously been made to try and integrate and unite the islands of interest in the organisation. However, these had all ended in further alienation and animosity as the islanders felt that they were being forced to integrate and as if they were losing their unique identities.

A story began to emerge about connecting the enterprise Inches together, one Inch at a time, and this culminated in a viewing of Al Pacino’s wonderfully inspirational speech in Any Given Sunday. In his role as coach Tony D’Amato, Al powerfully articulates the true nature of a winning team.

Tony D’Amato understands that a team is not an homogenous entity or an integral holon; it is a collection of individual inches which are fundamentally connected. These inches are all around, and when all those inches are added up, that’s what makes the difference between a team winning and losing, between an organisation living and dying.