An autonomous team is one that is wholly and independently capable of performing its work. There are no outside forces blocking an autonomous team’s progress. There is no need for approvals from other parts of the organization. The team has all the skills needed to pursue its strategy and vision.

The ideal size of the autonomous team is 5­–7 people and should never be larger than 12. Organizations achieve scale through multiple teams that are loosely coupled but tightly aligned—coordinated through shared goals, but not dependent on each other for their work.

The autonomous team has a shared understanding of quality. These standards are set by the team itself, not dictated from on high. Outside feedback—from stakeholders, sponsors and company leaders—is accepted, integrated and prioritized according to the team’s assessment of customer need.

Examples