10Pines: A Pioneer in Agile and Sociocratic Organizational Practices

This blog post is part of 50+ case studies of self-managing organizations we created for the 2024 inaugural ZeroDX awards. These organizations embody the principles of RenDanHeYi in their work structures:

• Zero Distance to customer: Decision what to build is based on insights from the marketplace

• Autonomy: Small teams with full decision-making autonomy enable speed in execution

• Shared Rewards: Everyone in the micro-enterprise participates in its financial success.

Introducing 10 Pines

Founded in 2009, 10Pines is a progressive software development company based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Initially established by four software developers from the agile community, 10Pines has grown to nearly 100 employees. The company specializes in custom software development, training in agile methodologies, and consultancy services. Inspired by Ricardo Semler's "Maverick" and agile principles, 10Pines has built a culture that prioritizes self-management, transparency, and people over processes.

10Pines is an excellent example of the RenDanHeYi philosophy in the software development industry through its decentralized structure, autonomous teams, and shared rewards model, distributing 50% of its profits among employees.

Organizational Structure

10Pines operates on a decentralized, horizontal organizational structure, closely aligned with the principles of sociocracy.

The company is divided into various circles, such as recruitment, finance, sales, and more, with no traditional hierarchy. Instead of leaders, they use terms like "citizens" to describe team members, emphasizing shared responsibility and collective decision-making. Each circle functions autonomously, with roles such as "gardeners" (mentors) to guide less experienced members. The shareholders in 10Pines are responsible only for adding new shareholders, while all other decisions are made collectively, reflecting a deep commitment to decentralization and participatory governance.

This unique structure empowers employees to make decisions, encourages innovation, and aligns with agile and sociocratic values.

Customer Centricity

Customer centricity is deeply integrated into 10 Pines' operations. The company ensures that every project team prepares its own profit and loss statements, fostering a direct understanding of project economics among team members. This transparency ensures that customer needs and project viability are clearly communicated and understood at every level.

Furthermore, 10Pines does not have a separate sales team. Instead, team members working on projects also handle client interactions, ensuring that customer feedback and project requirements are directly managed by the individuals executing the work.

This customer-first approach promotes a high level of accountability and responsiveness to customer needs, strengthens relationships, and aligns project goals with customer expectations.

Company Culture

The culture at 10Pines is built on the three pillars of shared decision-making, transparency, and aligned interest, which together create a stable and coherent organizational environment.

• Decision-making is conducted using the principle of consent, ensuring that all voices are heard and considered.
• Information sharing is facilitated through open book management, where financial details, including salaries, are transparent to all employees. Training sessions are regularly conducted to help employees understand financial statements and business metrics.
• Profit sharing is another cornerstone, with 50% of the company's profits distributed among employees based on criteria such as tenure, hours worked, and seniority. This approach fosters a sense of fairness and collective success.

Additionally, the role of gardeners, who act as mentors, and the open environment where anyone can participate in decision-making, further reinforce the collaborative and inclusive culture of 10Pines.

Conclusion

10Pines exemplifies the power of self-management and transparency in modern workplaces. Through a flat structure, customer-first focus, and innovative profit-sharing model, the company sets a benchmark for progressive organizations worldwide. This commitment to self-management and transparency has positioned 10Pines as a leading example of modern, people-centric workplace practices.