Scaling from tens to hundreds is a series of phase changes, not smooth growth. What works at 30 breaks at 100 and again at 300. The CTO must redesign communication, decision-making, and leadership at each threshold.
How to think about it
WHAT CHANGES AS YOU SCALE
- Communication: informal → structured (you can't all be in one room)
- Decisions: centralized → delegated to trusted leaders
- Structure: one team → domains → divisions/platforms
- Leadership: ICs → managers → managers-of-managers you must develop
- Process: ad hoc → lightweight standards & paved roads
The binding constraint shifts from to .
