Shared values

The reality of your teams’ day-to-day life at work – or team member experience – is influenced by more than company operations; it’s manifested as team behaviors that can be observed, recorded, and quantified. These behaviors are best designed and managed in the context of a shared set of organizational values, which are one of the prerequisites for TeamOps. Without explicit cultural values, there is no group identity or basis for group cohesiveness.

Each organization may create its unique values, but whatever they are, values must be recorded in the SSoT for reference and accountability, then operationalized through habits, rituals, and workflow practices. Include definitions, examples, and measurable success criteria so that any team member within the organization can understand and activate them.

Shared values also create guardrails that provide freedom for individual decision making. This leads to more informed decisions by removing guesswork on whether (or how) values were applied during operational processes.

Examples and resources for shared values

Example: 20+ ways GitLab values are integrated into decision making

GitLab reinforces its values in 20+ ways, including what we select for during hiring, our default software settings, criteria for discretionary bonuses and promotions, and what we explicitly call out when making decisions. These intentional integrations increase the likelihood that decisions are informed by shared values.

Example: How to work with external teams

Starting communication and collaboration with an external team (be it prospective clients, vendors, partners, etc.) who are not familiar with GitLab's TeamOps culture may be daunting. Every organization has their own culture. We want to empower our team members to foster communication and education to build an understood shared reality. We start with three main points to support this conversation.

Resource Virtual and hybrid teams with shared values perform better (research report)

Change management support for shared values

Quick Start Tips: - Individual: When responding or providing feedback to team members, highlight when their contributions activate one (or more) of your company values. - Team: When beginning a new project, discuss which values should be specifically prioritized for project success, and how they will influence the project roadmap or group dynamics. - Company: Update your company’s onboarding and continuing education programs to include training about your company values.