Source: Niskanen Center
by Ann Lewis
“Conway’s Law offers a simple but powerful insight: organizations inevitably design systems that mirror their own structure. When government agencies are siloed, or poorly coordinated, the services they deliver carry the same flaws. Multiple logins, duplicative forms, and conflicting eligibility rules are not accidents—they are reflections of the agencies’ internal divisions. This isn’t mere coincidence; it’s causation. Conway’s Law acts as a design force, with organizational structures, communication patterns, and reporting lines directly shaping service outcomes.” (08/21/25)
https://www.niskanencenter.org/conways-law-at-government-scale