As a part of [[An Elegant Puzzle]] [[Falling Behind]] | [[Treading Water]] | [[Repaying Debt]] | Innovating --- # Overview > A team is innovating when their technical debt is sustainably low, morale is high, and the majority of work is satisfying new user needs. > > Page 35 # System Fix > Innovating is a bit different, because you've nominally reached the end of the continuum, but there is still a system fix! In this case, it's to maintain enough slack in your team's schedule that the team can build quality into their work, operate continuously in innovation, and avoid backtracking. Tactically, ensure that the work your team is doing is valued: the quickest path out of innovation is to be viewed as a team that builds science projects, which inevitably leads to the team being defunded. > > Page 37