How Big Should a Team Be? The "Two Pizza" Rule

The "Two-Pizza Rule"

How Big Should a Team Be? When we put together teams for our Group Projects at Escape Studios, what is the perfect size for the team?

One good answer is Jeff Bezos's "Two-Pizza Rule", developed in the early days of Amazon.com - any team that can't be fed by two pizzas is too big.  The same principle applies at Escape Studios.

Teamwork

At Escape Studios, collaboration and teamwork is at the heart of everything we do. But when it comes to working on short films, how big should a team be? Small teams of 4-5 students are nimble, but may lack the necessary skills. Big teams of 10-15 artists have a broader range of skills, but can get unwieldy. 

The Two Pizza Rule

The Two-Pizza Rule" was developed by entrepreneur Jeff Bezos in the early days of Amazon.com.  Any team that can't be fed by two pizzas is too big.  How many people can be fed with two large pizzas? Well, maybe 6-10 - depending on how hungry they are. 

Why Small Teams Make Big Films at Escape Studios

This principle is perfect for filmmaking. By forming small teams of 6–10 students, we create groups with sufficient skills, where communication is clear, ideas flow freely, and everyone has a meaningful role. 

Jeff Bezos on The Two Pizza Rule

BAFTA Shortlisted Jerich0 - Studio Project

Teamwork at Escape Studios
To see more about teamwork at Escape Studios follow the links below:

• Why Do We Do Group Projects at Escape Studios?
• Managing Team Projects at Escape Studios
• Group Projects - Six Rules for Success
• Group Projects in Peril - When Team Work Goes Bad
• The Escape Method - How it Works
• How Feedback Works at Escape Studios
• How We Mark Group Projects at Escape Studios
• The Rookies Ranks Escape Studios in Top 5 Globally for Teamwork
• How to Make a Short Animated Film
• Framestore Brings Teamwork to Escape Studios
• How We Select Teams for Group Projects at Escape Studios
• Yay! My Project Got Picked! What Now?

The Escape Studios Animation Blog offers a personal view on the art of animation and visual effects. To apply for one of our courses, follow this link.