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Organizational Structure Shapes Software Design - A Practical Case Study of Conway's Law

Sivan Biham

from Healthy.io (Israel)

About speaker

Head of Research, Healthy.io

Sivan Biham is a Machine Learning researcher with experience in Computer Vision, Reinforcement Learning and Deep Learning among others. Currently, she is the Head of Research at Healthy.

About speakers company

Using colourimetric analysis, computer vision, and AI we transform the smartphone camera into a clinical-grade medical device. Our computer vision algorithms and unique calibration method can analyse urine tests and chronic wounds using a variety of devices and under different lighting conditions, making testing as easy as snapping a picture.

Abstracts

broad

Ever wondered why your software architecture seems to mirror your company's org chart? That's Conway's Law in action, and it's shaping your code whether you realize it or not. In my talk, I'll take you through a real-world case study that shows how changing our team structure dramatically altered our software design—for better and worse. You'll learn practical strategies to harness this principle, helping you align your organizational and technical architectures for maximum efficiency. Whether you're a developer, architect, or manager, you'll walk away with insights that could transform how you approach your next project. Don't miss this chance to see Conway's Law at work and learn how to make it work for you!

Conway's Law, which posits that organizations design systems mirroring their own communication structure, has profound implications for software development. In this talk, Sivan will introduce Conway's Law and demonstrate its impact through a real-life case study, revealing how organizational structure directly shaped software design. She will describe the scenario, the considerations behind each decision, and the resulting outcomes, illustrating how team structure influences design perspectives and how structural changes can lead to new architectural approaches.
Drawing from this experience, Sivan will review the pros and cons of different organizational structures in relation to software design. She will share practical tips to help teams navigate the interplay between organizational dynamics and system architecture, providing valuable insights for software architects, team leads, and managers. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how organizational structure affects software design perspectives and learn strategies for leveraging this knowledge to improve their own projects and team structures.

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