Inverse Conway Maneuver: Design the Org to Design the System

In this episode of The Product Handbook, we focus on the Inverse Conway Maneuver — the idea that if your system’s architecture mirrors your organization, then changing the org structure is the fastest path to a better system.

We explore how this concept plays out in real product and engineering environments, why Team Topologies supports it, and how to intentionally structure teams to enable the systems you want (instead of the ones your current silos accidentally create).

You’ll also learn:

• When to apply the Inverse Conway Maneuver (and when it backfires)

• Why org changes without architectural change = chaos

• How to evolve team structures collaboratively with system goals in mind

If you've ever wondered why every feature requires three handoffs and a sacrifice to the monolith gods — this episode is your blueprint for change.