Today, the complexity of solutions, processes and IT tools has grown, and development teams are working with complex challenges.
Based on the great discussions on the previous blog posts related to agile teams and business agility, here is another post related agile teams. The concept of a “team of teams” was popularized by General Stanley McChrystal in his book “Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World.” Here are some key ideas related to the concept, to give inspiration:
Dealing with complexity and rapidly changing environment by distributing decision-making authority
Traditional hierarchical structures and command-and-control systems are often inadequate in dealing with complex and rapidly changing environments. In today’s interconnected world, challenges are typically complex and require flexible and adaptive approaches. To effectively tackle complex challenges, organizations need to move away from centralized decision-making and embrace a more decentralized approach. Decision-making authority should be distributed to the teams on the ground who have the most relevant information and expertise.
Each team within the organization should be empowered to make decisions and take action based on their understanding of the mission and the information available to them. This requires trust, clear communication, and a shared understanding of the organization’s priorities and values. In the portfolio level, clear guiderails may help to achieve this – what decisions can be made in the team level, and where portfolio level decision making is needed?
Transparency and shared consciousness
Another key idea from the book, is that establishing a shared consciousness across the organization is important. This means that all teams should have access to real-time information and a common understanding of the larger mission and goals. Open communication and transparency are essential for creating this shared consciousness.
Rather than operating in isolated silos, teams should form collaborative networks that allow for effective coordination and information sharing. Inter-team collaboration and cross-functional communication are vital for breaking down organizational barriers and enabling collective problem-solving.
Is the current way of getting organized around development support collaboration?
Experimentation and continuous learning
The team of teams approach emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and adaptation. Teams should be encouraged to experiment, learn from failures, and iterate on their approaches. A culture of learning and innovation is necessary for staying agile in a rapidly changing environment.
Traditionally waterfall based state-gate models have not supported the experimentation and iterative learning – how is it today in your organization?
The new role of the leader
Traditional leadership roles also need to adapt to the team of teams model. Leaders should focus on providing guidance, fostering collaboration, and creating an environment where teams can thrive. The role of leaders is to empower and enable teams rather than micromanage or control them.
Overall, the team of teams concept promotes a more agile, decentralized, and collaborative approach to tackling complex challenges. By leveraging the collective intelligence and capabilities of teams, organizations can become more responsive, adaptable, and effective in today’s dynamic world. If interested to learn more, I would recommend checking out this book!
References
McChrystal S., Collins T., Silverman D. & Fussel C. 2015. Team of teams. New rules of engagement for a complex world. Portfolio Penguin.
Strategic Portfolio Management 