The Unspoken Contract
I used to despise top-down culture, but I can see some potential benefits, only if we do it right
The debate over top-down versus bottom-up product culture is often framed as a simple efficiency contest. Which model ships features faster? Which one innovates more?
I’ve been in both ends, and sometimes a mix in one company depending on the project. I used to dislike the idea of top-down, as it is considered as limiting. However, after talking to friends about it, it feels like they all have trade-offs. Sometimes it could also be beneficial, if and only if we adhere to one thing: who’s accountable for the outcomes.
The true, fundamental difference lies not in speed or innovation!
Let’s borrow the RACI framework:
