The Relativity of Situations: A Higher Priority Than Rules, Processes, and Structures in a Software Organization

?? Co-written with ChatGPT—because good ideas get even better with a little AI touch!

One of the biggest challenges in managing software teams is balancing rules, processes, and organizational structures with the real and ever-changing conditions of projects. We often try to define rigid frameworks to make work more predictable, but the reality is that situations are always relative, and there’s no single formula that guarantees success in every case.

Rules and Processes: Tools for Success, Not Obstacles to It

Imagine you have a team working under a tight deadline to deliver a product to a client. Your organization has well-defined rules for project management, daily standups, documentation, and code reviews. However, in practice, being agile and delivering on time might be more important than strictly following processes. If you focus more on enforcing rules than on achieving the actual goal, you might end up harming the team rather than helping it.

Decision-Making Based on Context, Not Just Structures

Successful software organizations and teams understand that rules and processes should be guidelines, not chains.

• Are all daily standups necessary? If the team is already aligned today, maybe skipping the meeting is the smarter choice.
• Should documentation always follow a strict process? If the situation is urgent, a simpler, faster version might be sufficient.
• Must all code changes go through extensive review? If it causes unnecessary delays in releasing a critical feature, maybe an exception should be made.

The Challenge: Finding the Balance Between Flexibility and Chaos

Understanding that situations are relative doesn’t mean abandoning rules entirely. Instead, it’s about learning when, where, and why flexibility is needed. This skill is one of the key differentiators of experienced managers and developers. Teams that blindly follow rules often struggle in unpredictable situations, while teams that assess the context and make smart decisions tend to be more successful in the long run.

Conclusion: Think Systematically, Act Pragmatically

Software organizations shouldn’t treat rules and processes as absolute. The key is to understand their true purpose and, in every situation, determine what decision brings us closer to that goal. If we embrace the relativity of situations and balance flexibility with principles, our teams will be more agile, effective, and ultimately, more successful.

?? How much does your team or organization consider the relativity of situations? Do you strictly follow rules, or do you adapt based on context? ?? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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