When tech startups develop their next big product, they need a self-managed technical team that is completely dedicated to their work. However, building a successful development team is not simple. What distinguishes a good software developer from a great one is team members’ belief in achieving common goals. In reality, most development projects have failed due to lack of individual and collective belief in the project’s success. Moreover, 78% of IT professionals believe they are out of sync with project requirements. For that reason, in this blog, AHT Tech will bring some tips for you to build and manage a software development team successfully and efficiently. So don’t miss any part in this article.
How to build a software development team successfully?
Recruit the Best Software Development Team Members
Hiring is never simple. It’s even more difficult to hire a software development team remotely depending on CVs and a few Zoom interviews. However, there are some characteristics that a candidate should have to join a great software development team. So, what should you look for in a software developer?
Good software developers work well in teams.
Talented engineers who are also good communicators are very important in a software development team. The success of your future product is dependent on effective communication and good teamwork. So you should look for candidates who are willing to share their experience achieving a goal, dealing with opposing viewpoints, and recognizing the individual contributions of their peers. Seeking people who, rather than just collecting stars for their crown, strive to get things done and succeed as a team.
They take the initiative.
You should look for the software engineers who will not sit around waiting for a task to be assigned to them. They want to join your company not only for the wages, but also for the opportunity to work on an interesting and challenging project. They’ll ask questions, make suggestions on how to organize sprints, and so on.
They take responsibility
I’m sure “responsible” is the most common soft skill you’ve seen on CVs. And, while determining whether a candidate is truly responsible is nearly impossible, you should try. Inquire about how they plan their days, prioritize tasks, create reports, and handle unplanned fixes,…
They are excited to try the boundaries of their comfort zone.
Great members of a developer team (and those you must find) have a genuine self-learner attitude and enjoy learning new skills. They’re fine with taking on new tasks which require them to step outside of their comfort zone.
Build a successful software development team
A developer team does not need to sit in a room to deliver great software and can differ geographical. Therefore, to ensure that the development process runs smoothly and each team member and the team as a whole are at their most productive, you should learn how to create a software development team based on the three Es:
software development team
Educate
Ensure that everyone understands their role in achieving the common goal. Put down specifics about your plan, such as deadlines, goals, and resources required. Having solutions to potential risks and ways to manage them. Make sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to communication, knows who to ask questions to, and understands the flow in case of unexpected issues, etc. This document should be made available to team members for self-control and as a standard procedure for quick action in the event of a problem.
Engage
Everyone should be encouraged to share their ideas and concerns without worry of being criticized, either by you or by their peers. Moreover,you also should invite key team members for planning meetings to drive initiatives and handle some aspects of the release.
Empower
A healthy software development team can function as a self-organized entity that knows how to manage itself even in difficult times, which is a sure sign of its health. Team members work independently, and everyone understands their role in achieving the common goal. However, the team also decides how this goal will be achieved. So define the parameters within which the team can make its own decisions.
Define the roles and responsibilities in your software development team
What is the ideal size of a team?
A typical productive software developer team has 5–7 members. This size allows each team member to completely immerse themselves in project details and understand the scope, challenges, and potential solutions. If the team is larger than seven people, you have to establish guidelines, workflows, and be hands-on in coordinating the overcrowded group
Software Developers
In case you’ve ever tried to put together a software development team. So you should know software engineers, both front-end and back-end. Both of them are essential. Depending on your requirements, you may be perfectly satisfied with a full-stack engineer. A senior or two are more suitable. Their experience and advanced knowledge can charge you more. However, this investment will be worthwhile.
QA Engineer
A QA Engineer assists you in analyzing test results. Moreover, they also help you identify errors during the stages of software development, as well as checking the product before it goes live. Their goal is to make sure the product meets all of the product owner’s requirements.
Project Manager
The Project Manager’s responsibilities include client communication, handling required documentation, budgeting, leading the team, and holding them accountable for deliverables. They also anticipate and manage risks. As a result, the project is completed on time, within budget, and within the scope specified. You must become a project manager in case you can’t afford or find one. Therefore, you must consider developing your own project management skills by attending relevant training or consulting with other project managers
Scrum Master
The Scrum Master’s role is to implement Agile principles. As a result, they are followed not only by the software development team, but also by the client. So they do not disrupt sprints with unexpectedly added features, However, many project managers are also Scrum masters in their teams.
Product Owner
A Product Owner ensures that the team creates the right product. This person is in charge of carrying out the tasks in the backlog as well as planning the scope of work.
Team Lead
A Team Lead is in charge of the project’s technical delivery. Typically, the lead is also an active member of the development team. However, a Team Lead and a Project Manager are not the same person. A Project Manager’s overall responsibility is to ensure that the project is well-planned. Therefore, their team can perform to the best of their abilities. In contrast, a Team Leader is in charge of the technical team’s daily responsibilities and efforts. Therefore, they have to ensure the availability of all project resources.
Chief Architect
The need for a Chief Architect is determined by the complexity of the product and the skills available within your current engineering organization. In case you have a complicated business structure with many development squads and a number of departments. So you need someone to coordinate the workflow between these squads.
Business Analyst
A Business Analyst’s function is to gather requirements and understand the project scope and the client’s needs. Outlining problems, opportunities, and solutions for business, as well as planning, budgeting, and reporting, are all part of a detailed business analysis.
UI/UX Designer
User Experience and User Interface Designers will assist you in measuring and optimizing the usability of your web apps for end users. Besides that, they create the best user experience by experimenting with various approaches to solving end-user problems.
How to use Project Management Software to manage a Software Development Team
Define and map out expectations clearly
When leading a software development team and delivering high-quality software, identifying and mapping out requirements is critical to success. Moreover, you should define the scope of development work by storing them in a centralized location and also within a specific timeframe. This can ensure developers can know exactly what to work on.
Assign developers to tasks accordingly
You can use project management software to allocate work to each team member. As a result, your team can stay on track easily. This allows your teams to know what tasks are currently being worked on or will be coming up next.
Keep track of deadlines
Your clients or your organization may charge when the team is unable to deliver the final product on time? Therefore, delay deadlines can put you and your team at risk, although these dates are estimates rather than firm commitments. So keeping track of them is critical to success. In case, your team is in the middle of a sprint and realizes that the scope of the work will not be completed by the original deadline. So you can communicate this to your clients. Besides that, you also can use project management software to keep track of deadlines. because it allows you to follow multiple deadlines at once and understand how your due dates compare to one another.
Distribute and share files in a place
Rather than trying to fire off email after email or reaching out to communicate critical information via a chat tool, you can use project management software. This solution will help you distribute information more seamlessly. Furthermore, your team members can distil messages from upper management or other non-technical teams. Making that information more digestible allows your team to devote more time to their work.
How to manage a team of developers with no technical experience.
Don’t treat them like code monkeys
Software development is real creative work. Therefore, your team members need time to think, solve problems, and come up with new ideas. So give them some breathing room and don’t judge their performance solely on the number of lines of code they write each day. Is it possible to meet deadlines? How many errors are introduced, discovered, and corrected? Consider a combination of quality, quantity, and ability to collaborate.
Discover what motivates them
Many developers are motivated by the prospect of solving a problem. That’s the reason why so many developers are willing to work for free which pique their interest or are related to their personal interests. In case, you can get them personally invested in the issue. So they’ll be more committed and motivated to do their best work.
Do not be afraid to ask
In case a team member says something which you don’t understand. So don’t be afraid to ask them to explain. Grab a pen and paper and scribble something down if it will help you and your team stay on the same page.
Recognize the importance of your own role
By breaking down large projects into detailed tasks, you can assist clients in translating their goals. Furthermore, explain the work done by developers (as well as any errors, roadblocks, or opportunities that may arise). As a result, clients may understand it. Moreover, developers must follow the same rules as any other type of team: don’t micromanage them, listen to as well as provide feedback regularly, give detailed guidance, and clearly explain roles, responsibilities, and priorities.
How to manage and lead a remote software development team?
Hiring a team you can trust
This means they’re working remotely. Moreover, you don’t have access to monitor all of their work and interactions. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t require supervision. So you have to train and provide them with the tools and information they need to complete their tasks. Furthermore, you should believe in your team and be approachable. As a result, they can express their concerns, and develop a working relationship based on trust and transparency.
Take advantage of time zone overlaps.
Working across time zones can make it difficult for all team members to communicate effectively. Therefore, you should consider scheduling team meetings during overlapping time zone hours to maximize attendance.
Leverage regular 1:1s and team meetings
Regular 1:1s and team meetings are the most effective way for your developers to ask clarifying questions. It’s critical to strike a healthy balance between scheduling productive and valuable meetings. Therefore, it makes sure that your teams have enough time to focus on their work and development tasks. So let’s’ find a cadence that works best for both you and your team
Use collaboration tools.
Communication and collaboration are essential components of software development. However, they are even more difficult for teams that are not co-located. There are some tools for remote team collaboration. So determine your team’s specific needs to determine which tools to implement.
How important are direct messaging and other chat features? Is a file-sharing system required? Are you looking for a tool to help you manage your request backlog?
Determine the specifics of what your team requires to do their best, most collaborative work. And then you can find and use a tool or tools to help streamline those requirements.
Provide and ask for feedback
Let your team members know what went well. Therefore, they can improve it in the next cycle. You should not only give feedback to your team. Moreover, you also should spend time gathering feedback from them. Therefore, you can maintain a strong partnership for long-term success.
Conclusion
That is all about useful information about the Software development team. If you have any questions about this article, let’s know via CONTACT FORM. More importantly, AHT Tech also provides Remote working team services for your businesses. Our services range from eCommerce development, eCommerce analytics, solution software development, etc. With our 15+ years of experience in the industry, we are confident what we will bring happy result to any business. Let’s grab this chance as soon as possible.