Building Agile Product Teams in Organizations
Innovation
User-centered product development starts with structure: How are teams composed? What processes foster focus and learning? How is research integrated without feeling like an add-on? In this project, we supported organizations from startups, mid-sized companies, DAX corporations, and ministries in designing scalable agile team structures for product development – and embedding them for lasting impact.
The Assignment
The goal was to make agile product development structurally compatible within organizations. To achieve this, we supported several clients in designing and building interdisciplinary agile product teams, including clear role definitions, process integration, and the systematic incorporation of user research into all phases of product development. The focus was on scalability, interfaces with the rest of the organization, and transparent, learning-oriented management.
Our Approach
1. Organizational Analysis & Team Design
We analyzed existing product development setups and developed new structures for interdisciplinary, autonomous teams – including clearly defined roles such as Product Owner, UX, Research, and Development.
2. Process Integration & Research Embedding
We designed agile steering processes and established continuous research loops, ensuring user insights inform every stage of product development.
3. Interface Management & Governance
We clarified how agile teams interface with other organizational functions (e.g., Legal, IT, Comms) and designed portfolio- and prioritization processes across units.
4. Scalability & Operational Reliability
We developed scalable models (e.g., tribes, squads) that promote learning while ensuring operational stability across the organization.
The Result
- Structured setup of agile product teams across various organization types
- Long-term integration of agile steering and research practices
- Reduced handover costs and shorter time-to-market cycles
- A scalable foundation for sustained innovation work
- Structural design and agile process consulting
- Integration of research and delivery logic
- Organizational development and setup of cross-team governance structures
