Scaling a technology organization is one of the most exhilarating—and daunting—challenges facing engineering leaders today. Many CTOs and engineering managers find themselves caught between relentless demands to grow rapidly and the critical need to maintain quality, team cohesion, and innovation.

In Growing Development Organisations, Stephan Schmidt distills over 30 years of practical experience as an engineering leader and CTO coach into seven essential principles for successfully growing tech teams. Rather than offering theoretical frameworks, this book provides concrete, actionable guidance based on real-world scenarios faced by leaders in fast-growing startups.

You'll discover:

• How to structure your team around clear ownership to empower autonomy and accountability.
• Techniques to proactively avoid becoming the bottleneck that slows your team’s growth and momentum.
• Insights into leveraging middle management as the critical pivot in scalable growth.
• The importance of promoting from within to foster loyalty, motivation, and continuity.
• Ways to manage and mitigate chaos before scaling turns small issues into large crises.
• How AI fundamentally changes organizational dynamics, enabling leaner, more efficient growth.

Rooted in hands-on experience at startups and global companies alike, this book speaks directly to the heart of the challenges facing CTOs, engineering managers, and tech leads. Stephan’s straightforward approach and proven insights will help you scale your team confidently, sustainably, and strategically—ensuring that your organization doesn't just grow, but flourishes.

If you're an engineering leader aiming to guide your organization through growth without sacrificing happiness, quality, or innovation, this book will become your trusted companion on the journey.