---
title: "Facilitate Communication to Resolve Boundary Conflicts"
source: "https://virtualddd.com/heuristics/facilitate-communication-to-resolve-boundary-conflicts/"
authors: ["Peter Hunter", "Elena Stojmilova", "Kenny Schwegler", "Andrea Magnorsky"]
tags: ["conflict management", "facilitating software architecture and design", "bounded context", "sociotechnical systems"]
type: "guiding heuristics"
question: "How should you handle architectural decisions that impact multiple team boundaries?"
submitter: "Peter Hunter"
---

# Facilitate Communication to Resolve Boundary Conflicts

When a decision crosses team boundaries, the primary role is to facilitate communication rather than dictate a solution. The goal is to prevent teams from becoming defensive and to encourage collaborative problem-solving. This helps teams redraw boundaries or find agreements themselves.

## Example

When a decision created conflict in the gray areas between teams, the priority was getting people to talk. This prevented defensive 'guard walls' from going up and enabled a collaborative resolution.