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How does the extended development team co-operation model work?
Pre-Planning
Pre-planning involves identifying a leadership team which can fully understand the scope of any software project and draw up a list of functional or technical roles that are needed. After which identify which roles can be filled in-house, and which roles will require outside expertise in a permanent or temporary capacity. We realise you may have already done this as part of any initial project kick-off.
On-boarding the selected extension team members
Rely on us to present to you trusted team players who will best meet your needs. But, do not simply accept them. Be certain to have your business and technical leaders interview them. There must be a cultural fit, along with the technical expertise. This is an important feedback loop, as roles have a habit of being redefined.
Develop an efficient communication channel
As your team grows, guide them by continuously improving on Governance, Management, Project Execution and Communication Layers.
Get the right tools for the job
The goal of extended team leaders is to be visible, but not so visible that you appear to be micromanaging. Leadership style may change dependant on the situation, however they must not interfere with the creation of an atmosphere that is open, transparent, and honest. Tools and established rules help achieve this.
Getting the basics covered in Extended teams is essential
We sit down with you to fully understand your needs and work out the best route forward.
Governance
Some of the common focus areas for leaders involved in extended team governance include the development strategy, the definition, the working model, articulating, measuring and monitoring the SLA, stakeholder management and dispute resolution.
Communication
The key challenge in managing any project is communication; more so of projects that have dispersed teams. The key goal is to bridge any ‘dispersed team’ gap that surfaces. The key is to define communication protocols upfront and have the right communication tools in place.
Project execution
The Project Execution Layer details the workings of global teams and projects functioning towards execution, development and delivery of software products. The key management imperative is to define, articulate and manage the different roles and responsibilities of team members in different locations.
Management
The success of the extended team lies in the consistent and predictable delivery of software projects. Extended teams need strong project management processes together with an appreciation of how to manage disparate teams, which is perhaps the key success factor.
Business practices and tools
Finding the right tool or mix of tool-kits along with training and access to best practices is essential to consistently deliver quality output. Nowadays, managing project planning and tracking, contract management and quality assurance is easier since tool-kits have been specifically designed to help extended teams as these are predicted to be the norm in the coming years.
Knowledge
Businesses in highly dynamic and innovation focused industries have long used Knowledge systems and repositories. Knowledge Management raises the ability to deliver greater quality and achieve faster time-to-market. Within a relationship, knowledge management processes may operate at different levels – project level, account level or business level.