Matthew Skelton

Matthew Skelton, co-author of "Team Topologies," is a leading voice in organizational design for software delivery. He discusses how team topologies can revolutionize product management by enhancing collaboration and reducing cognitive load. The conversation highlights the shift from project-based to product-focused models, the importance of domain expertise, and the strategic use of metrics in improving customer outcomes. Skelton also shares insights on navigating the challenges of rigid planning and the evolving role of AI in product development.

Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais, co-authors of Team Topologies, dive into the challenges of integrating AI into organizational design. They explore how generative AI can transform team dynamics and enhance productivity while emphasizing the need for structure without stifling creativity. The duo discusses the importance of team autonomy and adaptability, revealing insights from diverse organizations on optimizing workflows. Their conversation also previews the evolution of their ideas ahead of the second edition of Team Topologies, set to launch in September 2025.

Matthew Skelton, co-author of Team Topologies, discusses value flow, team structures, continuous stewardship, and decoupling in time. He explains how Team Topologies reduces cognitive load, increases user value, and structures teams more humanely. Skelton shares insights on system design, cybernetics, and neuroscience, drawing parallels to Pilates for company goals.

Effective software teams are essential for any organization to deliver value continuously and sustainably. But how do you build the best team organization for your specific goals, culture, and needs?That's the question posed by authors Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais in their highly-acclaimed book, Team Topologies: Organizing Business and Technology Teams for Fast Flow.On this week's episode of Dev Interrupted, we revisit Dan's 2021 conversation with Matthew and Manuel. Since first airing, their book has received broad recognition for its step-by-step advice, approach to team patterns and interactions, and compelling analysis of the communication pathways that lead to organizational success. We think this episode is as relevant today as it was when it was released - and we hope you agree!Show Notes:Learn more at teamtopologies.comCheck out the Team Topologies Academy: https://academy.teamtopologies.comOFFERS Start Free Trial: Get started with LinearB's AI productivity platform for free. Book a Demo: Learn how you can ship faster, improve DevEx, and lead with confidence in the AI era. LEARN ABOUT LINEARB AI Code Reviews: Automate reviews to catch bugs, security risks, and performance issues before they hit production. AI & Productivity Insights: Go beyond DORA with AI-powered recommendations and dashboards to measure and improve performance. AI-Powered Workflow Automations: Use AI-generated PR descriptions, smart routing, and other automations to reduce developer toil. MCP Server: Interact with your engineering data using natural language to build custom reports and get answers on the fly.

Explore how to structure your team for rapid change with insights from Matthew Skelton. Learn about optimizing organizations for fast flow, the distinctions between platform and enablement in SRE, and techniques like domain-driven design. Dive into measuring flow efficiency, reducing wait times, and the influence of manufacturing practices on software development.