Architecture Quote by Anonymous
““Any organization that designs a system (defined broadly) will produce a design whose structure is a copy of the organization's communication structure. -- Melvyn Conway, 1967””
About This Quote
Source Article: The Nature of Organization Design, 1967
Systems mirror the communication patterns of the organization that creates them.
In simple terms: Design copies communication structure.
Key Takeaway
Align design with communication flow.
Themes
organization
design
communication
systems
structure
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
observational
theoretical
When to use this quote
- Corporate restructuring
- software architecture
- team collaboration
- process mapping
Key Concepts
Systems theory
organizational behavior
design thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your organization’s communication shape its products?
- Can you redesign communication to improve outcomes?
A Different Perspective
If communication is flawed, the design will inherit those flaws.
