A team’s interaction patterns shape how work gets done. A long-established team with shared system knowledge may use a quick code review, while a changing, mixed-skill, or regulated team may need a more thorough process. section 2.4.3
Trust, communication channels, CI pipelines, and recurring mistakes all influence that choice. Teams can loosen a process as confidence grows or tighten it after review errors and production fires. section 2.4.3
Use team dynamics to make process decisions deliberately:
- Choose review strictness according to team experience, turnover, domain knowledge, and regulatory risk. section 2.4.3
- Make expectations explicit through a Team Working Agreement that defines interaction, atmosphere, standards, and policies. section 4.3
- Watch for social workarounds: friends approving each other immediately, chat-based rubber-stamping, or serial approval without inspection. section 7.1.1
When a fast process fails
A team requires one pull-request approval, but members request instant approvals in chat and reviewers approve without checking the code. The policy exists, yet the team’s behavior creates resentment and stress. Address the dynamic rather than merely adding another rule: discuss expectations together and adjust the working agreement. section 7.1.1 section 4.3
