# Team Topologies — Quiz

## Question 1

What does Conway's Law state?

A) Systems should be designed before teams are formed
B) Organizations design systems that mirror their communication structure
C) Team size should match system complexity
D) Platform teams should own all infrastructure

<!-- ANSWER: B -->
<!-- EXPLANATION: Conway's Law (1967) observes that organizations design systems that mirror their communication structure. If you have three teams, you get a three-part system. The implication: change team structure to change architecture. -->

## Question 2

Which team type is the default—the one that owns the core value flow?

A) Platform team
B) Enabling team
C) Stream-aligned team
D) Complicated-subsystem team

<!-- ANSWER: C -->
<!-- EXPLANATION: Stream-aligned teams own a full stream of value (e.g., checkout, search). They build, run, and evolve it. Platform, enabling, and complicated-subsystem teams exist to support stream-aligned teams. -->

## Question 3

When should two teams use the "Collaboration" interaction mode?

A) Always—teams should always collaborate closely
B) When the interface is stable and well-defined
C) During discovery, new domains, or high ambiguity
D) When one team is teaching the other

<!-- ANSWER: C -->
<!-- EXPLANATION: Collaboration is for discovery, new domains, and high ambiguity—when teams need to work side-by-side with shared goals. For stable interfaces, use X-as-a-Service. For teaching, use Facilitating. Collaboration is expensive; use it sparingly. -->

## Question 4

What is the primary constraint that team topology design should optimize for?

A) Team size
B) Budget
C) Cognitive load
D) Geographic distribution

<!-- ANSWER: C -->
<!-- EXPLANATION: Cognitive load is the key constraint. Teams can only hold so much in their heads. Design to minimize extraneous load, manage intrinsic load, and maximize germane (productive) learning. Splitting teams or adding platform can reduce load. -->

## Question 5

What is the "Inverse Conway Maneuver" pitfall?

A) Reorganizing teams to match desired architecture without changing communication and incentives
B) Creating too many stream-aligned teams
C) Making platform teams too large
D) Using X-as-a-Service when collaboration is needed

<!-- ANSWER: A -->
<!-- EXPLANATION: The Inverse Conway Maneuver is the attempt to reorganize teams to "match" a desired architecture. The pitfall: changing the org chart without changing behavior, incentives, and communication. Structure and behavior must align. -->

## Question 6

When should an enabling team step back?

A) Never—enabling teams are permanent
B) When the stream-aligned team has learned and can self-serve
C) When the platform team is ready
D) After one quarter

<!-- ANSWER: B -->
<!-- EXPLANATION: Enabling teams are temporary. They help stream-aligned teams learn new skills or adopt new tech. Once the stream-aligned team can self-serve, the enabling team steps back. They have an exit criteria; they don't become permanent. -->

## Question 7

<!-- VISUAL: quiz-matching -->

Match each team type to its description:

A) Stream-aligned → 1) Owns a full value stream; builds, runs, evolves it
B) Platform → 2) Provides internal services and tools for other teams
C) Enabling → 3) Helps other teams learn; temporary, has exit criteria
D) Complicated-subsystem → 4) Owns a complex subsystem requiring specialized skills

<!-- ANSWER: A1,B2,C3,D4 -->
<!-- EXPLANATION: Stream-aligned owns the value flow. Platform provides shared capabilities. Enabling teaches and steps back. Complicated-subsystem owns specialized domain expertise. -->

## Question 8

<!-- VISUAL: quiz-matching -->

Match each interaction mode to its definition:

A) Collaboration → 1) Teams work side-by-side; shared goals; discovery phase
B) X-as-a-Service → 2) Consumer uses provider's offerings; well-defined interface
C) Facilitating → 3) Provider helps consumer achieve outcome; teaching/coaching
D) Stream-aligned → 4) Not an interaction mode; a team type

<!-- ANSWER: A1,B2,C3,D4 -->
<!-- EXPLANATION: Collaboration = work together in discovery. X-as-a-Service = consume defined offerings. Facilitating = provider helps consumer learn. Stream-aligned is a team type, not an interaction mode. -->