TEAM of TEAMS Operating Model - How I Improved Speed-To-Market by 30% and Slashed Attrition by 50% at a Fortune 800 as Global Vice President by Chandra Gundlapalli

I've led numerous global teams as a tech executive at multiple Fortune 500 companies, one of my TOP proud accomplishments was leading a 2000-member global TEAM at a Fortune 800 $2B revenue & with a $400M P&L.

In less than a year I positioned the struggling applications business unit on top both internally & externally on the global map. Here is how I did it,

Coached my direct reports (Senior directors to directors) on The Next Disruption: TEAM of TEAMS Operating Model for Digital Transformation.

In recent years, digital transformation has become a buzzword, often associated with the latest cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the Internet of Things. While these technologies play a crucial role in driving innovation and growth, it is increasingly clear that the real disruptor in the digital transformation landscape is not the technology itself, but the way organizations structure and manage their teams. Enter the TEAM of TEAMS operating model, a groundbreaking approach that fosters agility, collaboration, and innovation by breaking down traditional silos and hierarchies. In this blog, we will explore how the TEAM of TEAMS model is the next disruption in digital transformation, empowering businesses to thrive in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

When I took on the responsibilities, my BU had a lot of silos and duplications (architects, developers, testers, etc.), something like this,

My vision was to break the silos and create a flexible operating model aligned to changing priorities, something like the following,

Why TEAM of TEAMS is the Real Disruptor:

People over Technology:

At its core, digital transformation is about enabling people to work more effectively and efficiently, leveraging the power of technology to drive innovation and growth. The TEAM of TEAMS operating model places people at the center of this transformation, emphasizing cross-functional collaboration, decentralized decision-making, and continuous learning. By empowering people to take ownership of their work and collaborate effectively, the TEAM of TEAMS model unlocks the full potential of digital transformation initiatives.

Agility and Adaptability:

In today's fast-paced digital landscape, organizations need to be agile and adaptable to stay ahead of the curve. The TEAM of TEAMS model promotes agility by decentralizing decision-making and enabling teams to quickly form, disband, or restructure based on the needs of the organization. This dynamic approach allows businesses to respond to changing market conditions, customer demands, and technological advances more effectively, keeping them ahead of the competition.

Fostering a Culture of Innovation:

Innovation is the lifeblood of digital transformation, and the TEAM of TEAMS model fosters a culture of innovation by breaking down traditional silos and promoting cross-functional collaboration. By bringing together diverse skill sets and perspectives, the TEAM of TEAMS model encourages creative problem-solving, idea generation, and experimentation, driving breakthroughs and growth.

Shared Vision and Purpose:

One of the key challenges in digital transformation is aligning the entire organization around a common vision and purpose. The TEAM of TEAMS model addresses this challenge by ensuring that all teams within the organization share the same goals and objectives, fostering collaboration, synergy, and a sense of shared ownership.

Continuous Learning and Improvement:

The TEAM of TEAMS model emphasizes continuous learning and improvement, promoting a growth mindset among employees and fostering a culture of curiosity and experimentation. By encouraging teams to regularly review their processes, share best practices, and learn from their mistakes, the TEAM of TEAMS model drives ongoing innovation and improvement.

To make the jump from siloed to flexible org, I had to create an Emotional Intelligence (EQ) framework, similar to the following,

Here is the final TEAM of TEAMS Champions Operating Model reflecting the above, based on my priorities at that time (back in 2020), top priority for me at that time was to modernize 40-year-old legacy mainframe systems, so I created the following TEAM of TEAMS business units in my org,

• Priority #1 Modernization as a Service

• Priority #2 Architecture as a Service

• Priority #3 Lean & Agile as a Service

• Priority #4 Automation as a Service

• Priority #5 Legacy Ops as a Service

Challenges I faced (and how I solved them):

• Lack of a framework to make this happen on the ground. I partnered with my peer Workforce strategy VP to create a framework at an accelerated pace together with my TEAM.

• Lack of education and awareness of TEAM of TEAMS model. Trained my direct reports for them to train the entire org.

• How to make sure priorities are delivered on time? created a Quantitative Capacity Model (project demand and available resources bandwidth in hours or agile world story points).

• Lack of cloud modernization skills. I hired world’s top modernization experts (California to Hamburg to Denver) to supplement my existing TEAM

• [I will share few more soon]

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30-Second Takeaway: While technology will continue to play a significant role in driving digital transformation, the true disruptor in this landscape is the TEAM of TEAMS operating model. By placing people at the center of the transformation, fostering agility, and promoting a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, the TEAM of TEAMS model empowers organizations to navigate the rapidly evolving digital landscape and stay ahead of the curve. It's time for businesses to embrace this next disruption and leverage the power of the TEAM of TEAMS model to unlock the full potential of their digital transformation initiatives.

My background: https://docsend.com/view/ktkrd2b3cmqd69ec

PS: Please check back, I will be updating the above article on the weekend(s).