One quarter after installing design leadership, the slowest function in the company set the release pace.
The team was talented and stuck: approvals queued at the founder, a design system existed in name only, and every release relitigated the basics.
The install
A fractional design executive took the approval queue, shipped the design system, and set a weekly critique with seniors in the room.
Nothing about the team changed. Everything about the system did.
The numbers
Release cycle time fell 40% in the first quarter. Design-caused rework halved. The function now briefs the roadmap instead of receiving it.
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