several decades ago I introduced a simple stage model — a presentation in Silicon Valley — the sequence that occured, and must occur for a successful company —

1. people
2. product
3. process

the failure of the venture was because of item number 1 — the key is people. They make everything else. They fix everything else. They break everything else. Item 3, process, can cause trouble, but not failure. 1 is the first need for all phases. Get the people right, and your risk approaches zero; wrong, and it approaches certainty.