Is There a Difference Between Formalization and Structured Processes?

I think what you're suggesting is not necessarily this complete over documentation and over processing of basic interactions between teams. I think this API model that you've presented is a way to just, again, formalize and at least structure that relationship without being so prescriptive as to say, hey, I need everything's got to be formatted in this kind of doc. And maybe for some teams that might work,. but it sounds like where you've found success in just having that API that is at least formalized enough that people can do their best with it.