viacheslav kravchuk. working as a distributed company. our journey. meet magento spain

Viacheslav Kravchuk

Working as a distributed company. Our journey.

Atwix last year

• 15 people• 1 physical office• 1 person constantly work from home• 1 time zone

Atwix this year

• 20+ people• 2 physical offices• 3 persons constantly working from home• 4 time zones

Define a distributed company?

Define a distributed company?

- a group of individuals who work across time, space and organizational boundaries with links strengthened by webs of communication technology

© Virtual Teams, J. Lipnack (2000)

stars = employees

stars = employees

GRAVITY?

IDEOLOGY

IDEOLOGY Culture Habits

Performance

IDEOLOGY Culture Habits

PerformanceActions

Commandmentsof a distributed company

#1 Thou shall be able to work anywhere

#2 Thou shall not feel left out

That is the approach to everything.

Communication

Communication

In-person communication naturally tends to suppress

electronic channels.

Communication

Communication

Telegraph ~ 1830s

Communication

Telephone ~ 1870s

Communication

Email~ 1970s

Communication

Digital communication is very new to us.

Communication

Digital communication is very new to us.

So what?

Communication• Encourage usage of digital channels

Communication• Encourage usage of digital channels• Set expected reaction time

Communication• Encourage usage of digital channels• Set expected reaction time• Graceful communication

Communication• Encourage usage of digital channels• Set expected reaction time• Graceful communication• Encourage feedback

Communication• Encourage usage of digital channels• Set expected reaction time• Graceful communication• Encourage feedback (ask for it)• 360º (peer) feedback

Communication• Encourage usage of digital channels• Set expected reaction time• Graceful communication• Encourage feedback (ask for it)• 360º (peer) feedback• 1 on 1 meetings

Changes in daily standup

Changes in daily standup• Talking object has to go???

Meetings

Changes in daily standup• Talking object has to go???• Voice or text?

Changes in daily standup• Talking object has to go???• Voice or text?• Less is more (applies to all meetings)

Changes in daily standup• Talking object has to go???• Voice or text?• Less is more (applies to all meetings)• Next change: Makers Schedule vs.

Managers Schedule

Hiring• Talent pool is much bigger

Hiring• Talent pool is much bigger• Good developer ≠ good remote worker

Hiring• Talent pool is much bigger• Good developer ≠ good remote worker• Remote work is a skill

Tracking performance

Tracking performance

Common criteria: job gets done.

Tracking performance

Common criteria: job gets done.Measurable?

Tracking performance

Example KPIs: time logged, clients satisfaction, number of bugs, etc.

Cross country challenges

Cross country challenges• Vacations, days off, national holidays

Cross country challenges• Vacations, days off, national holidays• Time zones

Cross country challenges• Vacations, days off, national holidays• Time zones• “Gettogethers”

Cross country challenges• Vacations, days off, national holidays• Time zones• “Gettogethers”• Legal issues

Core tools

Core tools

Core tools

Core tools

@slkra

Interested? vk@atwix.com

Core tools

@slkra

Handbook really tied the room together

Conclusions

@slkra

Challenges

@slkra

Challenges• Less face-to-face time, no socialization

@slkra

Challenges• Less face-to-face time, no socialization• Higher self-discipline required

@slkra

Challenges• Less face-to-face time, no socialization• Higher self-discipline required• Harder to cultivate culture

@slkra

Benefits

@slkra

Benefits• Less interruptions, better productivity

@slkra

Benefits• Less interruptions, better productivity• Saving time on commute

@slkra

Benefits• Less interruptions, better productivity• Saving time on commute• Freedom boosts creativity

@slkra

Benefits• Less interruptions, better productivity• Saving time on commute• Freedom boosts creativity• Higher employees happiness

@slkra

Benefits• Less interruptions, better productivity• Saving time on commute• Freedom boosts creativity• Higher employees happiness• Possibility to travel & work

@slkra

Benefits• Less interruptions, better productivity• Saving time on commute• Freedom boosts creativity• Higher employees happiness• Possibility to travel & work• Easier to see bottlenecks in the processes

@slkra

Benefits• Less interruptions, better productivity• Saving time on commute• Freedom boosts creativity• Higher employees happiness• Possibility to travel & work• Easier to see bottlenecks in the processes• …

@slkra

Q & A

vk@atwix.com

@slkra

@slkra