Tiny Red Book

Key Principles

• Teal-Inspired Organization darkroom.engineering draws inspiration from Teal organizations, emphasizing self-management, wholeness, and evolutionary purpose. This approach aims to create a more fluid, adaptive, and empowering work environment.

• Flat Hierarchy and Flexible Roles The company operates with a flat hierarchy and flexible roles instead of traditional job titles. This structure allows team members to take on multiple roles based on their skills, interests, and project needs, promoting adaptability and personal growth.

• Trust and Autonomy darkroom.engineering places a strong emphasis on trust and autonomy. Team members are empowered to make decisions, manage their own time, and take ownership of their work. This principle extends to practices like unlimited paid time off and location-independent work.

• Continuous Improvement and Learning The company encourages a "naive mindset," questioning assumptions and staying curious. Continuous learning and improvement are valued, with team members encouraged to share knowledge, experiment with new approaches, and learn from failures.

Key Practices

• Self-Organizing Teams Projects at darkroom.engineering are tackled by self-organizing teams that form organically around the work that needs to be done. This approach allows for more efficient resource allocation and increased engagement.

• Asynchronous Communication The company defaults to asynchronous communication, using tools that allow for thoughtful, non-intrusive information sharing. This practice accommodates different work styles and time zones.

• Transparent Decision-Making Major decisions that affect the entire studio are made collectively using consensus-based approaches. All team members have access to company information, fostering trust and enabling informed decision-making.

• Client Integration Clients are viewed as extensions of the team rather than external entities. They're invited into the company's processes, communications, and even workspace when appropriate, promoting closer collaboration and better outcomes.

• Focus on Outcomes Project management at darkroom.engineering emphasizes delivering value and achieving outcomes rather than adhering to rigid timelines or processes. This approach allows for more flexibility and innovation in project execution.