In this episode, Shad and Israel discuss the concept of scale and how it applies to various aspects of life and work. They explore the idea that some things fail when they're small but work when they're big, while others fail when they're big but work when they're small. They also talk about the importance of processes in handling large numbers of requests or customers, and the challenges of scaling those processes. They share examples from their own experiences and discuss the need for predictability, measurement, and relief valves in scaling processes. They also touch on the impact of time zones and the differences between scaling in large companies versus small businesses. Failing at scale requires understanding the limitations of processes and adapting them to fit the specific context. It's important to avoid blindly following processes that were designed for larger organizations or different industries. Instead, businesses should focus on building processes that address their unique needs and challenges. There are several ways to create processes that scale, including following someone else's process, building as you go, listening to experts, borrowing existing processes, and building a process and then scaling and revisiting it. It's also crucial to recognize when a scale problem exists and address it before it overwhelms the organization. Architectural patterns, such as the strangler pattern and the facade pattern, can be used to fix broken processes and gradually replace outdated technologies. Failing at scale often involves trade-offs and requires balancing efficiency, volume, and adaptability.
