I'm a strong believer in bottom-up innovation as the wellspring of a company's vitality.

At Google we called it 20% time.

But I think a way to frame it that is more natural in other contexts is "120% time".

These are not frivolous things you get to carve out space for no matter what.

It is, however, to say that if you have an idea for improvement that you feel strongly about, you should feel free to stick your neck out with extra effort.

That is, to act like an owner.

This requires it to be an idea that someone feels strongly about, because they have to go above and beyond.

This could help find doorbell-in-the-jungle style ideas.

Cheap to start (low downside)

Compounding potential if it works

Each incremental investment step will be a no-brainer if it's warranted.

But it will also be important to make sure there's a bridge for these 120% ideas to grow if warranted.

To start, an individual does 120% time.

If that works, perhaps they will convince others to also invest 120% time.

If that works, perhaps those people get top-down approval to spend 20% of their time on it.

If that works, perhaps those people get top-down approval to spend 50% of their time on it.

If that works, perhaps they get an additional head assigned to the project.

If that works, perhaps they get a formal allocation to hire 3 heads.

... And onwards, up to an Official, Fully Staffed Thing.

I don't think you need too much structure for this, just a little cultural scaffolding.

Celebrate successes that have this shape, to act as role models to inspire others to stick their necks out in 120% time too.

Make sure that if someone does something that is scrappy and has the potential to be transformative, that they feel like they have to hide it, but feel proud of it.