Executive Briefing: When Each Person Produces $2M a Year, the Sixth Team Member Costs Millions in Lost Productivity

Your meetings aren’t the problem. Your team sizes are. And the math just changed in a way most leaders haven’t caught up to yet.

Executive Briefing: When Each Person Produces $2M a Year, the Sixth Team Member Costs Millions in Lost Productivity

TL;DR

  • AI has increased per-person output significantly, but coordination costs remain high.
  • This mismatch creates compounding inefficiencies in calendars, shipping, and product correctness.
  • The article presents a framework based on combinatorics, psychology, military doctrine, and revenue data to address this shift.
  • Key concepts include the 'combinatorics case for five,' the 'scout vs. strike team framework,' and the 'Steinberger Threshold.'
  • Leaders need to adapt their organizational structures for the AI era to avoid falling behind.