Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani
Work Integrated Learning Programmes Division
First Semester 2022-202 Date:29/10/22
Assignment
Weightage 15%
Case Study-1:
Breaking Down Silos Between PM & Dev. by T-Mobile Marks=7%
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SGHStr4tZQ
1) What are Silos, and how were they formed? What techniques and tools did T-
Mobile employ to effect this change in their organization?
2) How do you incorporate this into your own organization?
Solution:
1) Organizational silos are structures that separate employees into individual groups.
Although professionals work at the same company, they only communicate and
collaborate with colleagues in the same silo as them. Organizational silos can form
according to an employee’s:
a. Department: Employees who have similar roles may create an organizational
silo within their department. For example, at one website company, the
copywriting team may have a separate silo than the editing team.
b. Rank within the company: Organizational silos can exist based on an
employee's experience level. For instance, entry-level employees may share a
silo that's distinguishable from the silo of managers. Employees who've worked
at a company for a long time may share a silo that's different from new
employees.
c. Geographical location: Geographical factors can refer to the location of an
employee's office, such as a silo for the employees who work on the fourth floor
of a building. Organizations with remote employees may have silos among
employees who telecommute from the same region.
d. Schedule: Employees can form organizational silos among coworkers who
work at the same time as them. For example, at a news station, the producers
who organize the morning newscasts may share the same silo, while the
producers over the evening show have their own group
The causes of organizational silos can include:
a. Lack of awareness of company vision: Employees may be unaware of the
company's overarching goal, which can create organizational silos. Suppose a
nonprofit's overall mission is to serve senior citizens, but the employees are
only concerned with accomplishing their individual goals. For example, the
human resources department focuses on training new personnel, while the
finances department focuses on attracting new donors, but there is little
collaboration between each sector.
b. Competition between departments: Departments that compete against one
another may unite in an organizational silo to do better than the opposing
group. For instance, the manager of a retail store promises a high commission
rate to the department that sells the most products. The jewelry team forms an
organizational silo to compete with the children's clothing team.
c. Physical separation of employees: The physical distance of employees'
