A dedicated team model follows an agreement between a software development company and its client by which the company provides a group to work on a project basis. These teams can work in-house or remotely with different management styles. One option is also to adopt the Agile approach and implement its principles to help with the development. Below are some ways you can ensure that the Agile framework can be successfully used in combination with dedicated teams.
Optimize Team Size and Roles
When you are using the Agile methodology in a dedicated team, it is important to set it up in such a way that you achieve the best results. The optimum size of the team can be anywhere between 3 to 9 members. A larger group may not be able to communicate effectively. A person can only take in a limited amount of information which is why smaller teams work best.
Moreover, more people will introduce more variables such as time zones and personal schedules and we want to avoid that. As far as team roles go, they should be distributed evenly among all members. Make sure the development engineers and the quality assurance specialists each have defined responsibilities and synchronized schedules.
Distribute Workload Equally
This should apply to all workplaces and teams but in the case of a dedicated development team, an uneven workload can lead to lags in development. The overloaded member may not have their part of the project ready in time and could delay delivery. An equitable workload will not only be better for an employees’ mental health but also the overall outcome of the project.
To ensure your team members are committed to their work and motivated, the team structure should treat in-house and remote workers equally. Just because members are not coming into the office does not mean they are slacking off and not working as hard as the others. Everyone has a part to play and has to pull his/her weight.
Manage Issues and Backlog
The Agile methodology recommends you sync up with the team every day to detect any issues that might delay the other tasks planned for the day. It is extremely important in the case of remote teams because the other members cannot resume their work unless the previous issues have been resolved. They could waste precious time if they do not handle them on time.
The key to avoiding any bottlenecks is to discuss what everyone is going to be working on today and tomorrow. This way someone can alert you if there is a backlog and you can take measures to avoid delays. Managing these problems using smart management techniques can reduce the extent to which each member is dependent on the other. That way you can achieve the highest efficiency and improve productivity across the team.
