I don’t have the idea that self organizing teams aren’t working. I am a big fan of self organization, which is why I write about it. I’ve also consulted for some of the bigger names in the space that are trying to make the shift from more hierarchical org charts to self org, and I witnessed how difficult that transition can be. That’s how I learned what challenges they face. It is easier when an organization starts out under self org from day one.

Also, I just moved back to the US from the Netherlands, so I am well aware of what is happening there. The Dutch didn’t invent self organization, nor is their hugely successful formula being copied across the globe. While they can boast some of the successful early adopters (like Buurtzorg, for example) there are countless other organizations in other countries that are doing similar things and learning from each other.