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In the context of the Spotify Model, a Squad is a small, cross-functional, and self-organizing team that works together to deliver specific product features or functionalities. Squads are the fundamental building blocks of the Spotify organization, representing small groups of individuals with different skills and expertise who collaborate closely to achieve shared goals.

Key characteristics of a Squad in the Spotify Model include:

1. Cross-Functional: Each Squad is composed of individuals with diverse skills, such as developers, designers, testers, product owners, and other roles necessary to deliver the product.
2. End-to-End Ownership: Squads are responsible for the end-to-end development and delivery of specific features or components. They have full ownership and accountability for the outcomes they produce.
3. Autonomy: Squads are empowered to make decisions and adapt their way of working to best suit their context and deliver value effectively.
4. Iterative Development: Squads use iterative and incremental development practices, such as Agile and Scrum, to deliver value in small increments and receive feedback early and often.
5. Continuous Learning: Squads foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement, encouraging experimentation and embracing lessons learned from successes and failures.
6. Aligned with a Tribe: Each Squad belongs to a larger organizational unit called a Tribe, which consists of multiple squads working on related business domains.
7. Collaboration with Chapters and Guilds: Within a Squad, individuals with similar roles or skills form Chapters to collaborate on skill development. Guilds, on the other hand, are cross-Squad communities of interest where employees share knowledge and collaborate on specific topics.

The Spotify Model is a scaling framework used by Spotify to organize and scale agile practices in large organizations. It emphasizes decentralization, autonomy, and alignment, allowing teams to work efficiently and deliver value to customers while fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.

It’s important to note that while the Spotify Model is widely known and referenced, organizations may adapt and modify its concepts based on their specific needs and context. The term “Squad” as described here is specific to the Spotify Model and may not be used in the same way in other agile frameworks or methodologies. Different organizations may have their own team structures and terminology to suit their unique requirements.