Outsourcing is helping to make more software projects a success.
There are many resources available to help you find the right vendor and estimate the cost of software development. However, the structure of your software development team is something that is often overlooked. While it is fairly clear what developers do and what their roles are, there may be some confusion about the BAs, PMs, or POs.
This article will explain how software development teams organize their work. We’ll also discuss the roles and responsibilities for each member of the team and how you can check if your team is working hard on your project.
There are three ways to structure a product team
Let’s begin with the basics. There are three ways to arrange an agile software development team: generalist, specialist and hybrid.
Generalist
The “generalist team” is a group that includes people with diverse skill sets and expertise. These teams are responsible for the entire project’s development or a specific feature. This is the most popular project team structure in outsourcing companies.
Generalist approach pros
- Each member of the team should have a solid understanding of the product in order to focus on its improvement.
- Every person is capable of completing their work independently.
Generalist approach cons
- Because no one has the right knowledge, sometimes it is necessary to bring on a new member of the team during the middle phase of a project.
Specialist
An specialist team structure is made up of experts with extremely specific skill sets and who are skilled in narrow tasks. Everybody is a pro in their own niche, and is therefore fully responsible for the work they do. This arrangement is quite common in software development teams.
Specialist approach pros
- A deep understanding of all project components.
- This team is capable of quickly building complex, high-quality systems.
Specialist approach cons
- Because everyone works individually, it is possible that components may not fit in the first iteration.
- Communication gaps may exist due to a lack of general knowledge.
Hybrid
A hybrid project team structure is a mix of specialists and generalists. These teams can work together on a project in its entirety, but they can also narrow their focus if necessary. This hybrid approach offers the best of both.
Hybrid approach pros
- Both specialists can build individual components, and generalists can ensure that the entire system is integrated.
- The development procedure is highly efficient.
Hybrid approach cons
- It can be hard to coordinate people who have different workflows.
- It is very time-consuming to build a hybrid team.
A typical software development team structure
If everyone had a few specialists and generalists in-house, it would be a perfect world. They would all get along well with one another. However, every company has its limitations: budget and time. This is why the majority of outsourced software development teams are not specialists.
These teams are made up of who? Let’s look at the important positions.
- Business Analyst (BA),
This person is responsible for setting goals, analysing and documenting core processes and systems, as well as ensuring alignment of technology and business model. BA can do everything. They assess what works and what doesn’t and then set the direction for business growth. - Project Manager (PM)
This person is responsible for planning and execution. The PM is responsible to get things done. They are responsible for building relationships between the client and different departments within an organization. They oversee the entire process, assign tasks to other members of the team, and make sure everyone is on the same page. - UX Designer
This person designs how users interact with the product. They make sure that every feature solves people’s problems and meets business goals. They also determine the appearance and functionality of the product. UX designers are focused on usability and functionality. - Developers (Frontend/Back-end)
These are the ones who actually code. While front-end developers focus on customer-facing aspects of the product, back end developers handle the functionality. This is what the user does not see. - Quality Assurance Engineer
This person tests the product to ensure it meets client specifications and conforms to quality standards. QA acts as a final editor, paying attention to every detail. They catch bugs and errors early so the team can fix them before they reach the users.
Remote Agile Team Hire
A dedicated Agile team can help you increase your development capabilities, make it easier to manage your time, and save money on hiring local staff.
What makes the Agile software development team structure so different?
The Agile team appears to have a few additional job roles. Let’s not forget the Agile manifesto for another.
- People and interactions with processes and tools
- Working software over comprehensive documentation
- Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
- Response to changeover after a plan
The fundamental difference between traditional and agile team structures is the way that people interact with one another.
Traditional team vs. Agile team
| Traditional team | Agile team |
|---|---|
| Project management from the top. Project management is the responsibility of getting things done. | A self-managed and organized team. The PM’s role in coaching the team, removing obstacles and preventing distractions is his. |
| Multiple projects can be worked on simultaneously by teams. | Each team focuses on one project at the time. |
| A company evaluates the individual performance | A company evaluates the performance of its team |
| Different job titles and roles | Skills matter more than titles in cross-functional teams |
| There are no limits on the size of a team. | Each team should have three to nine members. |
| Human resources refers to employees. | talents are the name given to employees. |
The Agile software development team: Roles and Responsibilities
Product Owner (PO).
PO is often a key stakeholder in a project. This person is a key stakeholder in the project and has a deep understanding of the users and product. They are responsible for internal development. They are responsible for ensuring that the final product/service meets client needs. PO monitors the team and supports and coordinates their work. He also ensures that the product requirements are met.
Scrum Master
Let’s first define Scrum. It is a method that helps agile groups organize themselves and respond to changes. A Scrum master coordinates the work of the team. He oversees the activities of the entire team.
Development team
This is a group of dedicated or in-house developers who work together on the project. The Agile development team is similar to a traditional team. It includes UX designers, front-end and back-end developers, as well as QA testers. They collaborate closely on the product.
A successful software development team structure is characterized by these characteristics
A mediocre team was not able to create any outstanding products. Every organization faces the challenge of ensuring that their employees are motivated to do their best. While most people can find talented employees, not all organizations are able to create an environment that encourages collaboration and allows their teams to flourish.
How can you tell if your team is successful? These are the traits you should look for.
- They communicate well. Software development is not an exception to the rule that communication is at the core of teamwork. People have the tools and processes to communicate well in great teams.
- They all work together for a common goal. The best teams do not require strict top-down leadership. They share a common mission and have clear goals. This environment is conducive to the perception that each member of the team has achieved success.
- They are aware of their responsibilities. Each person is aware of their responsibilities and the common goal of the team. Everyone is held accountable for their progress by setting expectations and defining roles and areas of responsibility.
- They have strong culture. A strong culture is about building professional relationships, respecting and supporting each other and being comfortable in one another’s company. These teams love spending time together at work and outside.
- They don’t need to be managed. Because great teams that share common goals and a shared vision aren’t pushed, top-down management is gradually disappearing. They are motivated to do the job they love and not forced to.
Summary
It is not enough to have an idea for a software product. It is important to find the right people to execute your project successfully and smoothly. We hope our blog about the software development team will help you improve your understanding of software development.
We are available to answer any questions you may have. Relevant has been building dedicated teams since more than 8 years. We are ready to help you build your agile team to lead your project to success.
You can also check out our case studies for great examples of what we have done for our clients.