When Collaboration Breaks Down

What causes collaboration to break down in organizations? We often hear talk of collaboration breaking down in command and control style hub-and-spoke structures, but more agile modern structures can also cause issues. Using a 2021 MIT article on collaboration and organizational network design (ONA) as a base, Dave and Peter explore these different models and their impact on collaboration. Expect lots of discussion on Agile and DevOps.

This week's takeaways:

• Centralized decision-making and hub and spoke models can hinder teamwork and cause confusion.
• Collaboration goes beyond breaking down silos; it requires a shared purpose and aligned goals across teams and units.
• Addressing bottlenecks, maintaining work transparency, and considering the entire system are crucial to avoid overload and disenfranchisement.
• It's important to consider structural and behavioral aspects to foster effective collaboration. 

Resources: 

Sloan Management Review: When Collaboration Fails and How to Fix It- https://corporateinnovation.mit.edu/2021/05/18/sloan-management-review-when-collaboration-fails-and-how-to-fix-it/

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