After other Squads use the same tool, test it, and collaborate together, then the tool becomes a default standard. For example, when enough Squads use a specific tool, that tool becomes a path of less resistance and other Squads tend to choose the same tool. They believe that cross-pollination is better than standardization. Spotify has little standardization, it doesn’t have a formal standard. Source: Spotify Engineering Culture - Part 1 Spotify process “Autonomy with alignment increases motivation, quality, and faster releases”. Autonomy with alignment increases motivation, quality, and faster releases. The stronger our alignment, the more autonomy we can afford to grant. It’s important that everybody understands the company/startup culture. “Loosely coupled, tightly aligned squads” Why alignment?Īlignment enables autonomy.

Squad’s job: Collaborate with team members to find the best solution.

Leader’s job: Communicate what problem needs to be solved.

Autonomy makes us faster by allowing decisions to be made locally instead of by managers and committees. Autonomy is motivating, and motivated people build better stuff, faster. People work with autonomy, mastery, and purpose.

They are part of a greater whole, active (rather than passive) members of the team, “making a positive overall contribution to the organization” - Griffin and Moorhead, 2008 ( Organizational Behavior Managing People and Organizations, 2009 Ed). Why autonomy?Īutonomy provides employees with a sense of collective ownership.

“Be autonomous, but don’t sub-optimize!”.

However, the Squad needs to be remain aligned with the Squad mission, product strategy, and short-term goals. On Squads the key driver is autonomy.Įach Squad has autonomy to decide what to build, how to build it, and how to work together while building it. The team members have end-to-end responsibilities, and they work together towards their long-term mission. It’s a small cross-functional, self-organized team usually with less than eight members.

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