Clay Parker Jones

Clay Parker Jones

I lead Organizational Design at Airbnb. Previously: August, Undercurrent.

Competitive Intensity, Business Models, and Distributed Authority

The correct answer to a question about the level of distributed authority doesn't just respond to the will of the people, or to some theoretical norm – it has to be in conversation with the market dynamics of the industry and the company's position in that market.

Apr 2, 2019 2 min read
Bicycles

Moots Routt Build & Review

I'm normally skeptical of any superlative description of a bike frame, but yeah, Ti really does have a glide-y feel to it.

Mar 19, 2019 6 min read

Assessing Performance in Responsive Orgs

When we surveyed a bunch of organizations, we found that effectiveness was correlated with leadership helping create networks within the org.

Feb 21, 2019 5 min read

The Trouble With Innovation

Several years and one company ago, I found myself in a mid-project meeting with a group of clients from a large hospitality company. We were sat in an innovation room that could have been plucked directly from the d.School – every single furnishing came from their catalog. Sitting at the

Nov 27, 2018 4 min read
Bicycles

The Waning

When the light changes, bike racing gets...prettier, but sadder.

Nov 8, 2018 2 min read
Bicycles

What I Learned at Camp

We went to Cycle Smart's Cyclocross Camp, and we learned some things

Sep 7, 2017 8 min read

Cooperation & Discord

I'm going back and reading through my old Diplomacy & World Affairs texts. They're useful: > Cooperation is contrasted with discord; but is also distinguished from harmony. Cooperation, as compared to harmony, requires active attempts to adjust policies to meet the demands of others. That is,

Jun 6, 2017 1 min read
Speaking

Creating The Conditions

A corporate retreat day organized around three stories, three games, and three new practices.

Apr 12, 2017 7 min read

Small Experiments With Radical Intent

Several months back, Erica and I were doing an introductory session with a Global Operations team inside of one of August's larger clients. We started with a quick retrospective to understand the issues facing the team. Along with the usual teaming stuff, we noticed an issue that, for

Mar 27, 2017 2 min read