A software development approach known as “distributed development” entails the collaboration of IT teams in different parts of the world. These teams are frequently divided into smaller projects combined for the final software buildout. Managing distributed development teams is very important.
Even though distributed software teams may live in the same ZIP code, they never share a workspace. To coordinate work, the team uses online discussion boards, project management tools, source code repositories, messaging, and video conferencing applications. Teams operating in dispersed locations must collaborate in a time- and location-neutral manner under the distributed software development model.
Challenges Associated with Managing Distributed Development Teams
- Lack of face-to-face communication
It is one of the challenges of the distributed software development model. Communication is the main obstacle for distant workers. Many fully remote employees feel lonely because they can’t just walk by a coworker’s desk to say hello. Additionally, having a scattered team makes it harder and harder to communicate clearly and develop genuine relationships. It can be challenging to assess coworkers’ moods, pick up on nonverbal signs, or interpret body language using text-based communication methods like email and chat apps.
Solution: Video conferencing enables face-to-face communication between coworkers, simulating in-person interactions, and strengthens distributed teams. Video conferencing makes it simple to read facial expressions, body language, and other nonverbal cues that are crucial to efficient communication, in contrast to chat-based communication or audio-only sessions.
- Productivity Issues
It is another challenge for distributed developer teams. Problems with productivity don’t always relate to your staff members’ poor time management skills. Many workers claim that working remotely makes them feel more productive! Process level concerns are where productivity problems start to appear. Teams run the danger of using various tools and functioning in different ways when there is no clear “code of conduct” for working remotely. Thanks to these norms and tools, every team operates from the same starting point. It eliminates any pointless uncertainty, allowing workers to concentrate on producing top-notch work.
Solution: Give your remote working procedures some thought and select appropriate tools. Working norms are standards for how to collaborate most effectively.
- Lack of trust
It is another challenge of assembling distributed teams. If you can’t see your remote team members, how can you tell if they’re working? Some managers find it challenging to trust remote team members due to the nature of geographically scattered teams, where employees work at various times and locations. Even though studies have shown that remote workers are typically more productive than their office-based counterparts, some managers still find it difficult to believe that remote team members are genuinely producing work when given autonomy.
Solution: Establish precise standards and measurable objectives.
Managers must have written expectations for how each team member should conduct themselves. These rules may specify which meetings all team members must attend, the needed turnaround periods for issues, the times when all team members must be online, the standards for the caliber of work, and other particular requirements. Additionally, by assigning each team member a task with a deadline, you can ensure that everyone contributes to the team’s overall objectives. Numerous online project management procedures complement this procedure and make it simple to oversee the productivity of your distant crew efficiently.
- Maintaining team and organizational culture is difficult.
Recognizing that your culture won’t necessarily transfer is vital for businesses that have switched from office to remote work. It needs to be maintained and represented in the new working environment of your remote team and business. Employees today demand that a company live up to its ideals in how it runs its daily business and manages its employees. However, the move to distributed web development teams has frequently allowed the culture to slip through the gaps.
Solution: Evaluate how you conducted yourself in accordance with your values while working. Make sure that anything that couldn’t be moved to a distributed workplace gets redesigned to work there.
- Ambient distractions for remote workers
While many workers relish working from home, a coffee shop, or even the beach, some find these settings disturbing. Many distractions are fighting for your attention in remote work environments, including housework, children, [web_stories title=”false” excerpt=”false” author=”false” date=”false” archive_link=”true” archive_link_label=”” circle_size=”150″ sharp_corners=”false” image_alignment=”left” number_of_columns=”1″ number_of_stories=”5″ order=”DESC” orderby=”post_title” view=”circles” /]pets, and seductive naps. Every interruption can potentially make remote workers put off tasks and reduce their performance.
Solution: Maintain accountability
Employees who work from home or other non-office locations gain access to the times of day when they are most productive. It may include working later or earlier than the regular daytime hours for some personnel. However, there could be times when a deadline is approaching, and a remote worker doesn’t appear committed to finishing the assignment on schedule. Make sure every team member is responsible for their job and aware of when each of their specific duties is due to best manage this issue. It will help with managing distributed development teams.
