More Than My Share of It All
, subject: Kelly Johnson autobiography and Skunk Works history, 1985
An account of fast technical work shaped by real program authority, organizational design, and rapid correction of failure.
About the book
The autobiography covers Johnson's decades as an aerodynamicist and chief engineer at Lockheed, his work on the P-38 Lightning and Constellation aircraft, and the management practices he used to run the classified Skunk Works development program in Burbank, California.
Why read it
Best if you are building or running a technical program and want to weigh real decision authority, organizational design, fast informal correction, sustainable work hours, and the discipline to decline ineffective work.
Key themes
- Authority belongs with program responsibility
- Organization is part of technical design
- Speed and judgment stood in for formal process
Evidence and original sources
This record is supported by 10 public evidence rows linked to original Founders episodes.
- Kelly Johnson: Skunk Works — Episode is built around David reading and discussing Kelly Johnson's autobiography as the central source for Skunk Works management practices.