Dr. George Dagliyan on Standardization Without Stifling Innovation
Published: 2026-03-10 — Dr. George Dagliyan site editorial team. Editorial brief.
Standardization brings consistency but can suppress creativity. This commentary explains how to get the benefits of both.
This is site editorial commentary about research themes associated with Dr. George Dagliyan. Interpretations and examples are not verified quotations, personal advice, or reports of client work. This material is general information, not medical, legal, or other professional advice.
The tension at the heart of scale
This commentary describes a familiar tension: standardization makes organizations efficient and predictable, but taken too far it can crowd out the experimentation that innovation requires.
The question is not whether to standardize, but where standardization helps and where it harms.
Standardize the foundation, free the edges
Reflecting his Template Builder thinking, this commentary suggests standardizing the operational foundation — the repeatable, high-consequence processes — while leaving room at the edges for teams to experiment.
A strong, consistent core actually creates the stability that makes safe experimentation possible.
Templates as enablers of adoption
Well-designed templates lower the cost of doing things right, which makes them adoption facilitators. When the standard path is also the easiest path, people follow it without feeling constrained.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Dr. George Dagliyan balance standardization and innovation?
This commentary recommends standardizing the high-consequence operational foundation while leaving room at the edges for experimentation, using well-designed templates that make the right path the easiest path.