Tips for Creating an Effective Extended Development Team to Increase Productivity

Posted by The Scalers on May 12th, 2023

The expansion of distributed teams and remote work has been one of the biggest recent changes. As a result, expanded development teams are becoming increasingly popular among businesses as a means of boosting output and effectiveness. In this article, I'll talk about the advantages and difficulties of extended development teams and offer some advice on how to form a productive group.

Extended Development Team Overview

Extended development teams are groups of programmers who collaborate across time zones and geographic distances. These teams may consist entirely of workers from the same business or may include both employees and contractors. An expanded development team's objectives are to boost productivity and efficiency through the use of a larger talent pool, lower expenses, and a quicker development cycle.

Advantages of Extended Development Teams

Using a larger development team has various advantages.
For starters, it enables businesses to access a larger pool of talent. This is especially valuable for businesses in places with a limited supply of competent developers.

Second, it has the potential to minimise expenses. Recruiting developers from other nations or regions may be less expensive than recruiting them locally.

Third, by allowing work to be done around the clock, an extended development team can accelerate the development process. This is especially important when you have a tight deadline to meet.

Extended Development Teams' Difficulties

While there are several advantages to utilising an extended development team, there are also some drawbacks to consider. Communication is one of the most difficult issues. When team members are in various time zones, it can be challenging to find a time that works for everyone.
Language limitations can also lead to miscommunications and misconceptions. Collaboration is yet another challenge. When team members are not physically situated in the same workplace, it can be challenging to interact efficiently.

How to Form an Effective Extended Development Team?

Putting together an efficient extended development team necessitates careful preparation and execution. Here are some pointers to help you put together a successful team:

Setting Specific Objectives and Expectations

Setting clear objectives and expectations is one of the most critical things you can do when developing an extended development team. This includes specifying who is accountable for what, when the project will be completed, and how much money will be spent. It is also critical to define communication protocols and collaboration tools that will be used by everyone on the team.

Communication Strategies for Extended Development Teams

Communication is essential when it comes to forming an efficient extended development team. It is critical to schedule regular check-ins and meetings to ensure that everyone is on the same page. This can be accomplished by video conferencing, email, or instant messaging. It is also critical to create clear communication channels and reaction time requirements.

Collaboration tools for extended development teams

Collaboration tools are vital for large development teams. There are several tools available, including project management software, version control systems, and code collaboration tools. It is critical to select tools that are simple to use and that everyone on the team is familiar with.

Time Zone and Schedule Management in Extended Development Teams

When working with a large development team, managing time zones and schedules may be difficult. It is critical to develop a plan that works for everyone on the team while taking into consideration the various time zones. This might imply altering work hours or switching schedules. It is also critical to create clear communication and reaction time requirements.

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About the Author

The Scalers
Joined: September 29th, 2020
Articles Posted: 48