a·gen·tic a·gil·i·ty

Why More Teams Won't Speed Up Delivery: The Truth About Scaling Effectively

TL;DR; Adding more teams does not automatically speed up software delivery; it often creates more dependencies, coordination overhead, and technical debt, which can slow progress. Effective scaling focuses on reducing friction, structuring teams to minimize dependencies, and prioritizing quality over quantity. Development managers should ensure teams are set up to work independently and efficiently rather than simply increasing headcount.

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In my experience, the common belief that “more teams mean faster delivery” is a fallacy that many organisations fall prey to. I’ve witnessed it time and again: a company decides to scale up, thinking that by simply adding more developers and teams, they’ll accelerate their release cycles. However, what often happens is the exact opposite. Instead of speeding up, everything grinds to a halt.

The Reality of Scaling Teams

When organisations rush to expand their teams, they often overlook a critical factor: how these teams are working together. Here are some of the pitfalls I’ve observed:

  • Increased Dependencies: More teams can lead to more dependencies, which complicates coordination and slows down progress.
  • Out of Sync: Teams that aren’t aligned in their goals and processes can find themselves working at cross purposes, leading to confusion and delays.
  • Technical Debt : As teams scramble to deliver features, they may cut corners, resulting in a build-up of technical debt that can haunt them later.
  • Coordination Overhead: Instead of focusing on delivering value, teams spend excessive time coordinating with one another, which detracts from their productivity.

The Naked Agility Approach

At Naked Agility, we believe that scaling should not merely be about increasing the number of teams. Instead, it’s about eliminating friction within the organisation. Here’s how we approach scaling:

  • Structure for Success: We help organisations design their teams in a way that minimises dependencies. This means that teams can operate more independently, reducing the need for constant coordination.
  • Quality Over Quantity: By focusing on maintaining high quality in deliverables, we ensure that teams are not just churning out features but are delivering real value.
  • Right Patterns and Guardrails: We implement the right patterns and just enough structure to keep teams moving forward without overwhelming them with bureaucracy.

The Goal of Scaling

Ultimately, scaling should lead to better outcomes, not just larger teams. It’s about creating an environment where teams can thrive, innovate, and deliver value efficiently. If your organisation is struggling with the chaos that often accompanies scaling, I encourage you to reach out.

Let’s have a conversation about how we can help you scale effectively, without the headaches. Remember, it’s not about how many teams you have; it’s about how well they work together.

More teams doesn’t always mean faster delivery. You’ve probably seen this happen: a company says, “Let’s scale up! More teams, more developers, more features, faster releases!” And then everything slows down. Dependencies pile up, teams get out of sync, and technical debt explodes.

So what’s wrong? The issue isn’t the number of teams; it’s how they’re working together. When teams aren’t aligned, they spend more time coordinating than delivering. You see constraints, handoffs, rework, and instead of shipping value, they’re drowning in knittings and delays.

At Naked Agility, we take a different approach. Scaling isn’t about adding teams; it’s about eliminating friction. We help organisations structure their teams in a way that removes dependencies, keeps high quality, and actually speeds things up. The right patterns, the right guard rails, and just enough structure to keep things moving without bogging teams down.

Because at the end of the day, scaling should mean better outcomes, not just bigger teams. If your organisation is struggling with this, then let’s talk. We can help you scale without the chaos.

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