Org Design for Design Orgs: Building and Managing In-House Design Teams

by Peter Merholz

Example of topics to include in an operating agreement: How we’ll integrate as one team Communication plan Availability of key staff for work sessions How we’ll work with the Insights group — access to key insights, and for new research, timing, recruiting, protocols, and field research Stakeholder approvals and timing Process for escalation and issue resolution Assumptions for deliverables — timing, type, and fidelity To create an operating agreement, facilitate two sessions with the full team. In the first session, brainstorm ideas without judgment or discussion, then discuss ideas and build an affinity diagram. Let ideas rest for at least a day, then reconvene to review the work, discuss and modify any ideas or categories, and finalize the list. Finally, publish the operating agreement alongside or within your team charter as a one-pager or slide in a deck.