🧊 Why small teams have to be good at borrowing

Large and small teams differ in many ways, but one difference stands out: how much of the system gets built versus borrowed. Compared to large teams, small teams must borrow a lot more than they build. If we use the iceberg analogy, a lot more of the project is below the surface and somewhat hidden by default.

Which means a small team's skill at borrowing sets how much time remains for the part only that team can build.