Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast: Agile storytelling from the trenches

Scaling with Purpose, Managing Agile Team Growth While Avoiding Conway's Law Pitfalls | Mateusz Komander

Feb 12, 2025

Mateusz Komander, Scrum Master at Heineken with a rich background in Agile transformations, dives into the challenges of scaling teams. He shares insights on implementing a Flight Levels system to maintain focus, while warning of the pitfalls of team silos reflecting Conway's Law. Mateusz highlights the delicate balance between maintaining cross-functional collaboration and managing team identities. His anecdotes underscore the importance of adaptable team structures in fostering innovation and preventing inefficiencies as organizations grow.

13:30

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Mateusz Komander

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Quick takeaways

The implementation of Flight Levels with small agile teams can boost efficiency but may inadvertently create silos that hinder collaboration.

Maintaining cross-functional collaboration while scaling teams is crucial to avoid the pitfalls of Conway's Law and promote effective change management.

Deep dives

Understanding Agile Fatigue

Agile fatigue refers to the feeling of being overwhelmed by the rigid frameworks and processes associated with Agile methodologies. Many practitioners express that following checklists and procedures can feel restrictive, limiting their ability to focus on achieving meaningful results. This sentiment highlights the need for a shift towards a more flexible and experience-driven approach to Agile, where the emphasis is placed on practical applications rather than theoretical frameworks. Such a transformation can invigorate teams and organizations, allowing them to re-engage with Agile principles more effectively.

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Intro

2min

Navigating Change and Team Growth in Agile Environments

4min

Navigating Agile Team Structures and Challenges

3min

Challenges of Team Collaboration and Scalability in Agile Development

2min

Navigating Team Dynamics and Silos in Agile Leadership

3min

Mateusz Komander: Scaling with Purpose, Managing Agile Team Growth While Avoiding Conway's Law Pitfalls

Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.

Mateusz shares a compelling story about scaling an application development team that started small but grew rapidly. The team implemented a Flight Levels system, breaking into smaller groups of four people maximum to maintain focus and efficiency.

While this approach initially showed promising results, it eventually led to unexpected challenges as teams began forming silos around architectural layers, exemplifying Conway's Law in action. This experience highlighted the importance of carefully managing team identities and considering platform team approaches when scaling.

Self-reflection Question: How can you maintain cross-functional collaboration when scaling teams while preventing natural tendencies toward technical silos?

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About Mateusz Komander

Mateusz, is a Scrum Master at Heineken, and brings expertise from biotech and airline industries, excelling in Agile delivery and transformations. Skilled in Management 3.0, he fosters self-managed, innovative teams. Mateusz just launched a podcast on organizational transformation, Mateusz highlights how understanding team dynamics beyond the Scrum framework enhances collaboration and effectiveness.

You can link with Mateusz Komander on LinkedIn.

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