Introduction of Amazon Culture

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, has been steadily turning his attention to Blue Origin since stepping down as Amazon's CEO. He has been joining regular business reviews and various technical briefings, where he 'digs into the details' with managers and engineers. This increased involvement has led to the introduction of Amazon's work culture at Blue Origin, with a focus on faster development and increased risk appetite.

One of the key changes introduced by Bezos is the removal of chains of decision-making that had become ingrained in Blue Origin's culture under former chief Bob Smith. This is aimed at pushing decision-making down the hierarchy, allowing for faster development and more autonomy for employees.

Changes in Work Patterns

Bezos and Blue Origin's CEO, Dave Limp, have also introduced changes to working patterns at the company. Employees are now expected to work a permanent 50-hour week, with frequent 12-hour shifts. Additionally, badge scanners have been introduced to track employee time, similar to Amazon's practices.

These changes have been met with mixed reactions from employees, with some expressing concerns about the impact on work-life balance. However, Bezos and Limp believe that these changes are necessary to drive the company's growth and development, particularly in the competitive space industry.

Increased Risk Appetite

Blue Origin has also become more aggressive in its flight schedule under Limp's leadership, with a focus on increasing the number of launches this year. The company has also announced plans to reach the Moon with its Blue Moon lunar lander, with Bezos stating that 'Blue Origin needs to be much faster' to achieve its goals.

The introduction of Amazon's culture at Blue Origin is a significant development, and it will be interesting to see how the company adapts to these changes. With Bezos' increased involvement and the introduction of new working practices, Blue Origin is poised for significant growth and development in the coming years.