Photo by Collins Lesulie

A structured framework to design, analyze, and improve interactions between teams. It focuses on:

• Bridging silos by clarifying dependencies and shared purposes.
• Streamlining workflows to reduce bottlenecks (e.g., hidden queues, misaligned priorities).
• Creating actionable agreements for smoother collaboration.

Applicable when:

• Launching new teams/groups.
• Addressing recurring conflicts or dependency delays.
• Conducting retrospectives identifying interaction issues.
• Refreshing operational cadences (e.g., every 6 months).

• Accelerate Delivery: 60–80% of delays occur between teams due to unclear handoffs.
• Reduce Friction: Proactively address misunderstandings before they escalate.
• Enhance Customer Value: Align interactions to directly support customer/organizational outcomes.
• Future-Proof Teams: Codify agreements for onboarding and scaling.

🛠️ Preparation

1. Gather Context:

   • Collect artifacts: Team Launch Canvases, Group Plans, Team APIs, or existing agreements.

2. Select Participants:

   • 1–3 representatives per team (leaders or domain experts).

🎯 Execution

Step 1: Live Facilitation (90 mins)

1. Define Collective Purpose (30 mins)

   • Draft a purpose statement:
     "We interact when [trigger] to [action] so that [benefit]."
   • Example:
     "Teams interact when a new feature is deployed to validate compliance so security risks are mitigated."

2. Reflect on Interactions (30 mins)

   • Use Norm Kerth’s Prime Directive:
     "Assume everyone did their best given their context."

   • Retrospective structure:

     • ✅ What works (e.g., clear escalation paths).
     • ❌ What doesn’t (e.g., delayed approvals).
     • ⚠️ Future risks if unaddressed.

3. Design Team Interfaces (30 mins)

   • Brainstorm solutions:

     • Eliminate: Automate handoffs, create self-service tools.
     • Simplify: Improve communication channels (e.g., shared dashboards).
     • Optimize: Align meeting cadences, limit work-in-progress.

   • Vote on top 3 actions and assign owners.

Step 2: Async Facilitation (Optional)

• Use surveys or docs to:

  • Pre-capture data (e.g., pain points).
  • Document constraints (e.g., budget limits).

• Set timeboxes to avoid over-analysis.

🔄 Follow-Up

1. Track Actions: Use a visible tracker (e.g., Kanban) and prioritize quick wins.
2. Update Knowledge Base: Convert agreements into onboarding docs or team wikis.
3. Schedule Reflections: Revisit agreements quarterly or after major team changes.

Outcome: Teams with clear, customer-aligned workflows and measurable reductions in cross-team friction.