Many organizations hope to improve operations using a cycle of fragmented, standalone, short-term improvements. While a great deal of effort is expended, it often isn’t enough to move the needle. Research on why some companies outperform others even when adopting the same operational improvement practices found that success comes down to developing cumulative capabilities : a sequence of interlinked capabilities that, when deliberately built one on top of the other, enable organizations to anticipate, adapt, and evolve continuously and strategically.