I mean where I worked this worked pretty well. Actual managment told you their rough goals (do more of X, make more like Y, don't forget Z) and "someone" who had a good idea and didn't like wasting time took the lead naturally. Small groups form, on some specific subproblem someone else takes the lead because they have a better idea how to tackle that specific beast etc.

Humans are good at organizing, if the goals are clear and everybody has the motivation.

And rhis is the actual problem. If I feel like the company is fucking me over in some way or viewing me as a cow they have to milk as much as possible, that motivation will be gone.