YAP (Yet Another Program) Mental Model

Overview

The YAP (Yet Another Program) mental model illustrates the challenges faced by cross-functional teams as they increase the number of initiatives or programs they manage.

Core Concepts

1. Cross-Functional Competency Requirement

   • Roles require a broader set of skills compared to specialized positions
   • Professionals need to work across multiple departments and stakeholders

2. Alignment Necessity

   • Success depends heavily on alignment with other teams and departments
   • As the scope of work expands, the need for alignment increases proportionally

3. Program Management Inflation

   • Each new initiative requires additional management overhead
   • This includes creating and maintaining documentation, workflows, syncs, and other organizational tools

4. Inflection Point

   • There exists a critical point where the number of programs becomes counterproductive
   • Beyond this point, teams spend more time managing programs than actively participating in them

5. Inverse Productivity Relationship

   • As the number of programs increases beyond the inflection point, the overall output and success of programs tends to decrease

Implications

1. Skill Development: Professionals need to cultivate a wide range of skills to effectively navigate cross-functional environments.

2. Strategic Program Selection: Teams should carefully evaluate new programs, considering the additional management overhead they will introduce.

3. Efficiency Focus: There’s a strong need for efficient processes, automation, and tools to manage the increasing complexity of work.

4. Balancing Act: Leaders must balance program creation with program participation to maintain team effectiveness.

5. Measurement and Optimization: Regular assessment of program effectiveness and team productivity is crucial to stay below the inflection point.