I recently asked about your product team ratios, and I want to share what we learned. Thanks to those who took part. I appreciate it, and your input helps us as an industry.

Two things to note about this survey are that: One, the sample size is small; and two, all respondents were large organisations with over 100 journalists or FTE equivalents (the average was 300). Smaller organisations should bear this in mind when considering the results. 

The results

In these organisations, the average product team size is just over 20 people. But these results ranged from teams of 1.5 to 65 people. The median was 12. In fact, slightly less than half were under 10 people.

We can conclude that product as a function within the news industry is still in flux. I suspect product functions are “hidden” in other teams where product work is being done under a different guise.  

Understandably, engineering teams are much larger. The average within the survey participants was 68. However, if we remove one outlier which weighted the results, the average moved to 38. 

Design teams are often smaller; the average was 12 people. Again, there was one outlier which skewed results. If we take that out, the average comes down to seven. 

Averages, not best practices

I feel it my duty to point out that these are industry averages — not necessarily best practices. For example, when I look at the outlier that changed the design results by having a larger team, I see their products and brands have exceptionally good design. 

What we can deduce about team ratios

I compared these findings with another, confidential, source that was shared with me. If we take all these numbers, the ratios are actually pretty clear. They suggest that a balance of circa one design to one to two products to six to 10 engineers is the industry average. 

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