- Direction is unclear. Decisions are driven by sales commitments rather than a cohesive roadmap or strategy.
- Unrealistic deadlines and there's limited room for even senior leads to push back.
- Chaotic team structure spanning multiple countries and outsourced agencies. Some APAC-based employees are expected to regularly accommodate US and EU hours.
- Depending on the team, long days (10–12 hours) are the norm, not the exception. Crunch periods can push well beyond that.
- High turnover (unsurprising, given the above).