---
id: "prereq-enterprise-it-compliance"
type: "prereq"
source_timestamps: ["¶3", "¶22"]
tags: ["enterprise-operations"]
related: ["concept-contextual-intelligence", "framework-three-functions-of-bridgers"]
reason: "Provides the context for why 'translating' and 'integrating' across boundaries is so difficult and conflict-prone."
source_url: "https://hbr.org/2026/03/why-great-innovations-fail-to-scale"
source_title: "Why Great Innovations Fail to Scale"
sources: ["futures"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-futures"
originDay: 2
articleStem: "hbr-nm-102-innovations-fail-to-scale"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/03/why-great-innovations-fail-to-scale"
sourceTitle: "Why Great Innovations Fail to Scale"
---
# Familiarity with enterprise IT and compliance constraints

**Prerequisite knowledge:** The text references IT's focus on operational reliability (**uptime**) and compliance's focus on regulatory requirements. A basic understanding of why these departments are inherently **risk-averse** is assumed.

**Why it matters:** It provides the context for why the [[framework-three-functions-of-bridgers|translating and integrating]] functions are so difficult and conflict-prone — and why [[concept-contextual-intelligence|contextual intelligence]] (reading each partner's metrics and constraints) is essential. This is the friction [[entity-nicole-m-jones|Nicole M. Jones]] navigated between Delta IT and CLEAR.