Bumbal is growing. We started in 2016 with a strong conviction and vision. The small startup back then has now grown into a scale-up. That growth, however, brought its own set of challenges. Inevitably, and likely recognizable for many. The biggest challenges were the changes in the team, our working methods, and, consequently, the company culture. It took a lot from everyone to scale with our ambitions.
‘Just Go’ mode
As a startup, we immediately had a fantastic team. Everyone went all in, and a culture of maximum independence, trust, and freedom prevailed. There was continuous alignment. Signals from the market were picked up immediately. There was little room for control or extensive discussions. Everyone worked from a shared passion and the drive to keep improving the product. The speed and improvisation had a bit of a ‘cowboy’ mentality: jump into the deep end and act quickly.
Culture change as a result of growth
Bumbal grew. And as a scale-up, our way of working changed. It became necessary to introduce more structure and documentation. New team members needed to understand why things were the way they were, based on the choices we made and how processes evolved. Transparency and consistency became more important. But this new way of working also demanded a cultural shift. From reacting quickly and directly to working in a more planned and structured way. Where we once went to a colleague’s desk every five minutes with an idea or a question, we now work toward structured meeting moments, like within a scrum process. This brings more focus and efficiency.
Saying goodbye and welcoming new team members
We realized that our way of working had to change. We had to consciously switch gears and introduce structure. This didn’t happen overnight. It was a process of trial and error. Not everyone felt comfortable with the new way of working. So, we had to say goodbye to some very good colleagues. It’s painful, but necessary for growth and progress. And we didn’t get everything right from the start, which also brought some discomfort. All in all, we’ve taken a significant step forward in the right direction.
The journey is never finished
We now stand on a solid foundation. The growth pains, which lasted about two years, have made us stronger. We realize that the journey is never finished. Teams change, people come and go, and processes must continue to evolve. Even something as simple as scaling up a sub-team or the introduction of part-timers affects how we work. I used to want to solve those things myself. Now, I trust that the team, with the help of processes like scrum, can grow into it themselves. It’s a group we’re truly proud of.
It’s a learning process, but one that prepares us as an organization for even more growth. And that means we—just like our product—never stop moving forward.
Mortada.
