Key information
Exploring the first pillar of the FIRM framework, business and leadership coach Martijn van Zwieten details how indie game studios can define their future by establishing a long-term direction. Following the question of why a studio exists, teams must determine where they are going.
To establish this direction, teams can use the Big Hairy Audacious Goal concept from Jim Collins' 1994 book Built to Last. This clear and ambitious long-term goal helps studios evaluate major decisions, such as selecting their next game or determining team size.
Finding this goal involves agreeing on a future date, with 5 to 10 years working well for most studios. Team members then write a brief future article detailing achievements, after which the group discusses shared elements to find an overarching goal that is between 50% and 70% doable.
Studios should also set yearly goals, recommending between 5 and 7 goals to maintain focus without spreading efforts too thin. These yearly objectives act as camps on the way to the overarching goal, helping teams stay accountable and make real progress.
