Giles Anderton is a technology consultant and organizational design expert known for his insights into team dynamics and scaling challenges. He founded Cantor & Ball, a product delivery and digital disruption agency, in 2011 after transitioning from roles as a software engineer and product manager. His work focuses on optimizing collaboration and communication within growing organizations2.
Key Contributions to Organizational Design - Breaking Points in Scaling: Anderton identifies critical thresholds in team sizes where organizational structures often break down. Startups typically face challenges around 12 employees (requiring formalized processes) and again at 30 employees (needing middle management and clearer communication frameworks)2.
- Efficient Team Sizes: He advocates for small, multidisciplinary teams of 7–11 people to maximize focus and reduce cognitive load. Larger projects should involve multiple coordinated small teams rather than monolithic groups2.
- Communication Pitfalls: Anderton highlights risks like duplicated efforts and wasted resources when teams lack visibility into overlapping projects. He cites examples where companies invested millions in products that were later forgotten due to poor documentation and communication silos2.
- Practical Recommendations Streamlined Communication: Use tools like Slack or structured emails, but establish clear protocols to avoid overwhelming employees.
- Shared Understanding: Leaders should ensure teams grasp how their work connects to broader company goals, particularly during scaling phases
