Ivy Global - Transforming Work through Semco Style Management

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 Ivy Global

Established in 2014 in the Netherlands, Ivy Global is a pioneering company that bridges the gap between young engineering talent and industry needs. By connecting students and professionals with real-world projects, Ivy Global empowers the next generation of engineers while helping companies achieve their technical goals. With around 150 employees, including part-time students and permanent staff, Ivy has cultivated a culture of collaboration, innovation, and shared success.

Organizational Structure

Inspired by the Semco Style management philosophy, Ivy Global has embraced a decentralized structure, eliminating traditional hierarchical roles.

One of the most significant shifts occurred in 2022 when the company phased out the director’s role, challenging its employees to collectively manage tasks that were previously the responsibility of a single leader.

Ivy operates without managers, relying on self-organized teams across its offices in Amsterdam, Delft, and Eindhoven. These teams handle their own sales, recruitment, operations, and financial management, while a company-wide team supports functions like HR, communications, and long-term strategy.

Decision-making is decentralized, with employees empowered to make decisions that affect their work, fostering a sense of ownership and accountability.

Customer-Centricity

Ivy Global's decentralized model has significantly enhanced its customer-focused approach. By empowering teams to make real-time decisions, Ivy is able to:

• Deliver tailored solutions: Teams respond quickly to changing client needs, as they don't require managerial approval to act.
• Encourage innovation: Employees are free to test ideas and implement creative solutions. For example, Remy, one of Ivy’s clients, shared an example where the team automated a label printer using a script, a solution he hadn’t thought of himself. He also appreciates Ivy’s structured communication, which keeps everyone updated through regular reports. Remy values how Ivy listens to client needs and adapts their approach accordingly, making them an agile and customer-focused partner.
• Maintain agile communication: Regular updates and structured reporting keep clients informed and satisfied with the progress.

Autonomy is also underlined by the way they manage internal capacity. As part of its transition to self-management, Ivy Global introduced a capacity meter that underlined peer-to-peer responsibility. By measuring their workload on a scale from 1 to 5, each person could indicate if they were open to help others (1) or if they were too busy with their own projects (5). It created more alignment within the organization since more cross-functional collaborations started to arise. In this manner, work allocation became more self-managed instead of being directed by a manager. The beautiful side effect of these collaborations was the increased awareness, among employees, about all the projects Ivy Global was working on. It led to a better understanding of the workload of others, as well as stronger personal connections.

Ivy's responsiveness, adaptability, and commitment to listening to client feedback make it a reliable partner in achieving technical goals.

Company Culture

Ivy Global’s culture is rooted in trust, transparency, and shared responsibility.

The company operates on the principle that everyone should have access to the same information typically held by managers, including financial data. This transparency is critical for enabling employees to make informed decisions.

Additionally, Ivy Global has adopted a democratic process for determining salaries, where all employees come together to propose and agree on their compensation during an annual session. This practice reflects the company’s commitment to fairness and shared success. Ivy Global also embraces a profit-sharing mechanism where employees are given the opportunity to purchase shares in the company. This model ensures that workers are not just employees but also co-owners, aligning their personal success with that of the company.

The company places a strong emphasis on work happiness ("werkgeluk"), aiming to create an environment where employees feel valued, motivated, and aligned with Ivy Global’s long-term vision.

Challenges remain, particularly in onboarding new employees into the decentralized framework and ensuring that everyone effectively utilizes the available data. However, Ivy Global continues to innovate and adapt its practices to maintain a dynamic and inclusive workplace.

Conclusion

For over a decade, Ivy Global has quietly built a successful business model rooted in decentralization, autonomy, and innovation. Now, they’re beginning to share their story with the world, inspiring others to rethink traditional workplace structures.

By empowering employees, prioritizing clients, and embracing continuous learning, Ivy Global is redefining what it means to be a future-focused organization. Their commitment to self-management showcases the potential for companies to succeed without hierarchies, creating a blueprint for others to follow.