distributed team and how to get success with it

Distributing team, how to get success

Distribution levels

Co-located

Co-locatedpart time

Remote offices

Distributed with overlapping hours

Distributed with different hours

#1 Culture differences

Each culture has own words, phrases and actions suitable for different situations, but they can be abusive in other cultures. Your goal is to learn about team’s/customer’s culture to make sure that you deal right with opponent.

#2 Work culture difference

Another point is work culture – style of work. There are workaholicnations, “siesta included”, “owls and larks”, etc. Some one use combine play and work (a lot of IT company have paly rooms).

#3 Zero level of trust

What can you do?

How are you?

Do you enough mature?

Senior engineer in 23 years?

Level of trust

#4 No personality connection

On site visit brings understanding that you are working with person, friendly relationships will increase level trust.

#5 Lack of response

There should be clear understanding about responsibilities, knowledge holding. Further more, you must know who is decision maker and big boss.

#6 Assumptions and specifics

Take nothing for granted, nothing is obvious

#7 As is decisions

Distribution projects increase communication complexity. There is a huge risk of misunderstanding. There should be a black boxes or not important parts in the project.

#8 Lack of responsibility

Who ?

What ?

When?

#9 Miscommunication

Always translate any verbal agreement to written artifacts. It is very important, language issue & culture issues, rush and technical talk background.

Tips & Tricks.Tools, tools and tools again

Meetings & Calls

Blocking issues tracking

Task tracking

Continuous integration

Knowledge sharing tools & documentations

Micro management

Demo

Tips & Tricks.Be in the same boat

Project it is a boat where all participants are crew Some one is captain, some is navigator others are rowers. However success of the trip depends on each member. As fast each team member will understand this as fast your boat will sail.

Tips & Tricks.The bigger the better

Small project makes your team nervous and distracted. Team will start looking for the new opportunities before release current project.

Tips & Tricks.Don’t be short of a good word