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