Dependencies are most often not the problem per se. Dependency on a team that has lack of availability tends to be.

If a team B that a team A is dependent on was available whenever needed it wouldn't be as much of a problem.

A traditional way of trying to solve the lack of availability by planning more doesn't solve the problem because the real amount of needed slack in the system is almost always underappreciated.

@d_stepanovic I admire Microsoft's practice of establishing internal regular consulting and help hours for their network services and related tools.

For teams whose work depends on these complex and evolving common systems, the practices around "office hours" make problem solving speedy and efficient.

cc @RuthMalan