The ReOrg

In this episode, Eddie and Morgan dive into the complexities of departmental reorganizations (reorgs). They provide an overview of the motivations and emotions behind reorgs, addressing why they often evoke strong reactions among employees. They different types of reorgs, such as rightsizing and rethinking, and explore the countervailing metrics that should be tracked to ensure the effectiveness of reorgs. They also touch on broader themes like effective communication, inclusivity, and the impact of emerging AI technologies on organizational design. Learn practical strategies for managing reorgs, maintaining team morale, and aligning organizational changes with business goals.

  • (00:00) -  Intro
  • (00:22) -  Understanding Reorganizations: Definition and Emotional Impact
  • (01:13) - The Fear of Change and Its Consequences
  • (03:57) -  Transparency in Reorganizations: Pros and Cons
  • (10:19) - Techniques for Effective Reorganizations
  • (12:56) - Countervailing Metrics: Measuring the Impact of Reorgs
  • (14:11) - Types of Reorganizations: Rightsizing and Rethinking
  • (22:43) - Relocation and Mix and Match Reorgs
  • (26:13) - Diving into Neurodivergent Inclusion
  • (27:28) - Effective Communication During Change
  • (27:58) -  Handling Resistance and Skepticism
  • (29:13) - Creating Safe Spaces for Feedback
  • (30:03) -  Strategies for Organizational Reorganization
  • (31:11) - Exploring the Spotify Model
  • (32:14) - Challenges with the Matrix Model
  • (36:42) - The Role of Tiger Teams
  • (40:07) - Layoffs and Organizational Defensibility
  • (49:35) -  AI Era Organizational Design
  • (54:13) - Closing thoughts

Creators and Guests

Eddie Flaisler
Host
Eddie Flaisler
Eddie is a classically-trained computer scientist born in Romania and raised in Israel. His experience ranges from implementing security systems to scaling up simulation infrastructure for Uber’s autonomous vehicles, and his passion lies in building strong teams and fostering a healthy engineering culture.
Morgan VanDerLeest
Host
Morgan VanDerLeest
Trying to make software engineering + leadership a better place to work. Dad. Book nerd. Pleasant human being.
The ReOrg
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