In product development there is term for the standard to which all of a company’s product must be made. It is the prototype or sample that all other products are measured against.
It is called the golden sample.
Without a golden sample, there is no standard for a manufacturer to be held accountable to, and any version of your product can show up at your office without any real repercussion. The same golden sample should be on display in the factories and on display in your office, so both teams have agreed upon expectations. If something less than that golden sample shows up, your team should know it.
Each company also has its own golden sample of leadership that sets the standard to which all the employees should be measured against.
It’s you.
