Apple’s ability to innovate isn’t just about great ideas—it’s about how teams come together to turn them into reality.
When Apple developed Portrait Mode, it wasn’t a simple upgrade. It required a deep level of radical collaboration across hardware, AI, and design teams to solve challenges no single team could fix.
Early tests failed. Edge detection was poor, the background blur looked unnatural, and the real-time preview lagged. Instead of teams working separately on their fixes, they engaged in cross-functional problem-solving, continuously refining each other’s work. Engineers debated with designers, AI specialists collaborated with hardware teams, and each challenge led to stronger solutions.
This intense, iterative collaboration turned Portrait Mode into a defining feature of the iPhone 7 Plus. More than just a camera upgrade, it became proof that when teams break silos, challenge ideas, and push beyond their limits, true innovation happens.
How Radical Collaboration Drives Innovation:
1. Cross-functional teams solve problems faster—bringing expertise together creates better solutions.
2. Challenging ideas leads to better results— differing and diverse views refine ideas.
3. Shared ownership pushes teams further—when everyone owns the outcome, no one settles for “good enough.”
4. Breaking silos drives breakthroughs—working beyond project teams/departments unlocks new possibilities for creating innovative products and services.
Apple proves that real innovation isn’t about individual effort—it’s about how teams collaborate, challenge, and build together.