Definition

Isolated and unable to communicate or share information effectively with other departments or teams. When your organization resembles a collection of medieval towers rather than a cohesive unit.

Example Usage

Our engineering and marketing teams are too siloed—they need better communication channels.

Origin

Agricultural terminology adapted to business in the 1980s-90s to describe isolated organizational structures

Fun Fact

Companies spend millions on 'breaking down silos' while simultaneously creating new ones through reorganizations, making silo destruction a perpetual consulting industry.

Source: Organizational management terminology

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