tribe (corporate context)

In a corporate context, "tribe" typically refers to a group of employees organized around a specific business area, feature set, or shared culture. Popularized in the tech sector by the "Spotify Model" of Agile scaling—which organizes people into Squads, Tribes, Chapters, and Guilds—and Seth Godin’s 2008 book Tribes, the term was adopted to describe cross-functional teams that maintain a sense of autonomy and shared mission, distinct from rigid, traditional corporate hierarchies.

The usage of the term has become increasingly contested in recent years. Those who use it often feel it emphasizes human connection, loyalty, and a flat organizational structure, offering a warmer alternative to sterile terms like "division" or "department." However, critics, including many Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) advocates, argue that using "tribe" to describe office workers is a form of cultural appropriation. They contend that it trivializes the complex history, political sovereignty, and struggles of Indigenous peoples. As a result, many organizations are retiring the term to avoid causing offense and to foster more inclusive environments.

Example:
"Under the new agile transformation plan, the engineering department will be split into three distinct tribes, each focusing on a different aspect of the user journey."

Example:
"The CEO often talks about finding your tribe at work, implying that we should treat our colleagues like a close-knit family."