Enterprise Technology Leadership Summit Las Vegas 2024

Traditional layered teams often struggle with high coordination, low autonomy, “design by committee" and a lack of predictability in outcomes, leading to inefficiencies and challenges in meeting project timelines. This talk highlights the transformative journey at Wendy’s in going from layered to domain-aligned teams. The presentation delves into the substantial challenges encountered during the realignment process, including navigating organizational boundaries, cultural alignment, and the inevitable discomfort that accompanies change. We discuss the impact of these changes on processes such as release management and highlight the relevance of Conway's Law in shaping team dynamics and output. Through this journey, we uncover the significant benefits of such a transformation: empowered leaders, a deeper understanding of the system, alignment with DevOps culture, and, critically, enhanced predictability of software releases. This talk not only shares insights into the hurdles and successes encountered but also provides a roadmap for organizations looking to embark on their own journey towards more efficient and predictable outcomes.