Why is everything so hard in a large organization?

I don't disagree with the article but in these discussions I think one thing people generally miss is organizations optimize throughput at the organization level.

Individual developers productivity might suffer from various causes like adding more developers, policy, communication overhead and other things. But the company could still be increasing their value through these actions which is the only thing that actually matters.

Aligning everyone in a big corporation is like herding cats - you've got workers worried about their day-to-day, managers trying to balance their carrier plus top and bottom, and executives planning for the long haul. Lots of potential for clashes and dropped balls there.

The fix? Clear, strategic chatter top to bottom; giving employees a real stake in decision-making; building up leadership skills in your managers; aligning performance incentives with company goals; and creating a team culture that's all about working together and being transparent. Easier said than done...

Dunbar's Number.