Introduction
In the first part of this series, we explored how Track methodology empowers teams through cross-functional collaboration, delivers measurable business impact, and drives innovation.
In this second part, we’ll delve into the high-level management of Tracks, including how mission statements and resources are reviewed, and how leaders like group managers and track managers balance their responsibilities. We will also take a closer look at how innovation is driven discovery mode and how the Tracks methodology supports leadership and strategic decision-making.
Track management forum and portfolio process
The success of the Tracks methodology in Taboola is driven by the careful monitoring and resource allocation facilitated by the Track management forum. This small forum includes vice presidents and a chief product officer and is responsible for orchestrating Tracks’ leadership, from defining its mission statements to allocating resources.
- Coordination of tracks: The Track Management Forum ensures that each Track aligns with Taboola’s broader strategy by defining the mission of each Track, selecting a capable Track Leader, and allocating resources (equipment and other assets), which are reviewed and approved by SVP R&D, VP Product and members of the Senior Executive Team (SET) as part of the portfolio process.
- Portfolio process for resource approval: Track resources are approved based on an iterative 6-month portfolio process, led by the SVP R&D along with the VP of Product and other SET members. This process takes place before the start of each year and again in the middle of the year to ensure that tracks are adequately resourced to achieve their goals.
The three “hats” of leadership
In Taboola’s technology organizations, leaders wear three different “hats” that define their responsibilities:
- People management: Leaders at all levels, whether team leaders, group directors or vice presidents, are responsible for managing the growth and performance of their teams, supporting their professional development and fostering a positive and productive work environment.
- Project management: Depending on their role, leaders oversee smaller tactical projects or large-scale initiatives, ensuring timely delivery and resource alignment.
- Craftsmanship (Technical Experience): Leaders are responsible for maintaining and improving the technical expertise of their teams, driving innovation and ensuring high quality output.
At the team leader level, the three hats—people management, project management and technical experience—are carried simultaneously within their own team. This means that team leaders are not only responsible for managing the day-to-day performance and professional development of their team, but also for driving successful project execution and ensuring a high level of technical competence within the team. They play an essential role in fostering a positive and productive work environment.
While team leaders focus on managing the full scope of their teams’ work, group managers in the Tracks structure they play a more flexible role, overseeing their teams while allowing certain projects or tasks to be led by other Track Leaders. In the cross-functional model, group managers can lead Tracks while some of their teams are assigned to Tracks led by others. Unlike team leaders, who wear all three hats (people management, project management, and crafts) directly within their own teams, group managers in the Tracks structure often do not directly manage the team’s tasks or projects. day by day of all their teams.
Instead, their role is to ensure that their team members succeed within the tracks they are assigned to, even when those projects are led by another track leader. This includes providing guidance, supporting team leaders, and ensuring their team’s alignment with the broader goals of the track. This flexibility ensures that the best people are always working on the most impactful projects, regardless of departmental boundaries, while group managers remain accountable for the overall development and performance of their team.
Opportunities for emerging leaders
Although most of our tracks are led by managers who already manage a group and are also nominated as track leaders, we also recognize the potential of emerging leaders. In some cases, we appoint managers to run Tracks even before they become group managers. They are typically leaders who have experience managing teams and demonstrate the ability to drive larger, cross-functional initiatives.
For these emerging leaders, taking on the role of track leader allows them to focus more Project management i handicraft—ensure the successful execution of the project and maintain high technical standards in its cross-functional teams. Since they don’t manage organic teams yet, People management becomes less central to their role, allowing them to concentrate on driving the track’s technical objectives and results.
This flexibility provides a valuable path for managers to grow into broader leadership roles. By focusing on leading high-impact projects and honing their technical expertise, they gain the expertise needed to balance all three hats.People management, Project managementi handicraft—as they grow into full group directors in the future.
Note: Similarly, Senior Product Managers (PMs) may also take on the Track Leader role as part of their career growth, allowing them to experience the benefits of cross-functional non-PM management as described above .
Advantages of the Tracks methodology for managers
Taboola’s Tracks methodology offers significant benefits for managers, enhancing their leadership capabilities, improving strategic decision-making, and driving career growth through cross-functional collaboration.
Greater visibility and direct impact on business KPIs
In the Tracks model, managers have end-to-end responsibility for projects, giving them direct influence over business outcomes and key performance indicators (KPIs). Successfully Lead High Impact Tracks provide greater visibility within the company, opening pathways for career advancement through measurable achievements.
Efficient management of resources
Tracks give managers the flexibility to dynamically allocate resources based on evolving project needs. This approach ensures that the best talent is aligned with the most mission-critical projects, improving overall efficiency and accelerating progress toward business goals.
Expand leadership between groups and departments
Leading a track means managing cross-functional teams from various groups and departments. This experience helps managers develop broader leadership skills, enabling them to manage complex multi-team initiatives and work effectively across the boundaries of their own department.
Driving innovation and creativity
The Tracks methodology allows managers to make strategic decisions and defend a culture of innovation. It encourages calculated risk-taking and experimentation, which is further supported by discovery mode, a structured process for exploring uncertain opportunities and testing new concepts (see more about discovery mode in the next section). By leading innovative initiatives, managers can foster creative problem solving among teams.
Strategic Career Growth
High-impact leadership tracks allow managers to build a strong track record of success, positioning them for further leadership opportunities. In addition to sharpening their technical and project management skills, managers gain valuable insights into broader business objectives, improving their ability to align technical execution with business strategy.
Balance structure with leadership flexibility
The Tracks methodology provides a structured framework for managing leadership responsibilities while remaining adaptable to changing business priorities. This balance of structure and flexibility allows managers to focus on delivering results while adjusting team direction as business needs evolve.
Discovery Mode: Exploring uncertain opportunities within tracks
While tracks tend to be focused and impact driven, Taboola uses them as well discovery mode for concepts, projects or sub-projects that need further exploration or research. Discovery allows us to explore opportunities that may not have immediate clarity but show potential worth investigating.
- Exploration with less certainty: Discovery projects allow us to inspect ideas and run proofs of concept (POCs) to determine whether they should evolve into a full track or a sub-project.
- Definition of future tracks: Sometimes a discovery phase leads to the establishment of a new track or the addition of a subproject to an existing track. If the potential is significant, Discovery makes sure it gets the attention it deserves.
- Dedicated Resources: Discovery mode is not a “nice to have” or an afterthought; it is a crucial part of the portfolio process, with dedicated resources allocated. This ensures that the exploration and validation of new opportunities receive appropriate attention and are aligned with the company’s goals.
- Flexible results: Not all Discovery projects move forward, but the process provides a space for safe exploration, minimizing risk and ensuring that only the most promising ideas are pursued. By embracing a fail quickly approach, described in more detail in Part 3—teams can quickly identify which ideas to pursue and which to discard, minimizing the investment of resources on less viable paths. This approach, rooted early failureit encourages teams to stop or pivot efforts early when progress becomes uncertain, focusing on alternative strategies that can achieve better impact. This agility allows us to refine concepts early on, ensuring that only the most promising initiatives move forward, while mitigating risk and fostering innovation.
Conclusion: Strengthen strategic leadership and innovation through the track methodology
The Track methodology has proven to be a powerful framework at Taboola, empowering managers with the flexibility to lead cross-functional teams, allocate resources efficiently, and drive impactful innovations. By providing a structured yet adaptable approach, Tracks not only help achieve key business outcomes, but also provide valuable leadership growth opportunities in R&D and other departments.
The balance of accountability, ownership and adaptability equips both managers and teams with the necessary tools to tackle complex challenges and deliver results. Through mechanisms such as discovery mode and the principle of early failure, the methodology ensures that innovation remains a core component of how we operate, enabling us to pivot quickly and focus on high-potential initiatives.
In Part 3we’ll further explore the role of track leaders, focusing on how they manage cross-functional teams, recognize and act on early signs of failure, and ensure their tracks stay aligned with Taboola’s strategic goals.