Skunk Works
May I suggest OP you find a copy of "The Skunk Works" by Ben Rich - Kelly Johnson's successor.
A great read but when you stop to think about how they got the Blackbird flying from first sketches to wheels up in under 5 years (in the '50's and '60's) it's was effectively down to experienced designers working literally next to the machinists with important decisions taken quickly and decisively with no interference from outside.