Small businesses organize themselves. The number of staff members is small and all the moving parts of the business are visible to everyone. Coordination of activities is casual and almost automatic so there is little need for meetings or structure of any kind.
As organizations grow and become more complex, the seat-of-the-pants management management style that worked with a smaller crew doesn’t cut it anymore. Tasks become more varied, teams begin to function more independently and have less contact with one another. This makes it more challenging for these teams to coordinate what they do with other teams, and to stay connected to the organization’s overall purpose and operational goals.
In this scenario, people are busy and operations continue, but too often the process is chaotic and reactionary rather than coordinated and proactive. Teams may know what the major areas of responsibility are, but not be clear on who is accountable for them. Companies at this stage of growth need a way to work together that allows transparent accountability and more opportunities for coordination and proactive thinking about the work that needs doing.