Most universities describe delivery constraints as a shortage of skills.

In practice, delivery slows when internal teams and external partners operate in parallel, rather than as one integrated capability, driving duplication, cost inefficiency, and lost momentum.

This session explores how a squad-based model at UNSW brought internal and external capability together to accelerate delivery of a complex Adobe Experience Manager program, while optimising cost and avoiding growth in permanent headcount.

Cross-functional squads aligned to a shared backlog, common governance, and a clear cadence enabled faster decisions, reduced rework, and more efficient use of scarce specialist skills. Just as importantly, structured knowledge transfer ensured capability and IP were retained in-house.

We will unpack what changed in delivery speed, predictability, and cost profile, where the model breaks down, and the risks to manage.

Attendees will leave with a practical way to integrate partners into a single delivery model, improve cost efficiency, and sustain capability gains beyond the life of the program.