How To Manage a Software Development Team
Whether you're an experienced software development manager or looking to learn more about the role, knowing the fundamentals of managing a software development team is essential. For just one moment, think about your favorite athlete. For them to be successful and reach their highest potential, a coach behind the scenes taught them the fundamentals of the game.
But, coaching a team (or managing a software team) requires more than just teaching the fundamentals. In the off-season, the coach is there, driving the players to practice those fundamentals, ensuring those skills stay sharp when it comes time for the next game. The same is true when it comes to managing a software development team.
If you want to take your development team to the next level, the team here at Mach One Digital has compiled some of our top lessons learned when managing a software development team.
Table of Contents
Every Coach Needs a Playbook
Interpersonal Dynamics that Affect Productivity
Establishing Goals & Setting Expectations
Creating an Engaging Environment
Cultivating a Culture of Ownership & Accountability
Knowing About New Technologies & Best Practices in Development
Staying Ahead of the Curve with the Competition
Developing Learning & Communication Channels
Fostering Healthy Conflict Resolution Techniques
Monitoring & Evaluating Performance
How Remote Teams Can Achieve Synergy
Tips for Improving Your Managerial Skills
Conclusion
Every Coach Needs a Playbook
Just as a sports coach needs a playbook to manage their team effectively, software development managers need one, too. Knowledge becomes power only after it is applied. Therefore, it is up to you, the manager, to ensure your team knows and applies this knowledge and best practices. As you build your playbook, consider including the following:
The team's mission and purpose
Communication strategies
Coding standards and version control processes
Areas where you can automate tasks to free up team members
Expectations on communication, collaboration, and deadlines
Team structure and individual roles
Policies for dealing with everyday issues
Tools used to collaborate, manage tasks, track progress, and report results
It should also clearly define roles, responsibilities, and expectations for how the team should work together. Having the right playbook in place can make managing a software development team much more manageable and help ensure everyone is working towards the same goals.
Interpersonal Dynamics that Affect Productivity
Whether you have a technical background or not, interpersonal dynamics are one of the greatest hurdles you will face. They can play a huge role in the success of your software development team. While it's important to understand everyone individually, knowing how different personalities and interests affect productivity, morale, and overall team performance is important.
Tips for Managing a Software Development Team
Start on the right foot. Before any project begins, communicate expectations clearly and set up processes for managing tasks, deadlines, and communication.
Get to know your team members. Spend time getting to know each of your team members individually so that you can better understand how they like to work.
Encourage collaboration. Empower your team members to collaborate and brainstorm to get the most out of their talents and skill sets.
Support different working styles. Respect that some team members prefer working independently while others thrive in a more collaborative environment.
However, it is important to note that accommodating different working styles does not mean that you should be lax on deadlines or allow for sub-par work. Instead, it just means understanding your team's strengths and weaknesses and leveraging them to get the best results.
Balancing Teams by Products
Creative thinkers may be better suited for creativity and design tasks. Analytical thinkers may do well with debugging or problem-solving tasks. When talents are siloed, it can become difficult for a team to collaborate on a project. To ensure that everyone contributes and works together, consider balancing your teams based on the product they are working on.
For example, if you are working on multiple application products at once, instead of having a team of designers in one area, a team of developers in another, and a team of testers on yet another product, have one person from each discipline work together on a single product. This way, the designers can provide feedback to the developers, and the developers can lend their expertise to the design process, creating a more dynamic workflow.
Establishing Goals & Setting Expectations
Before any development team can start, goals and expectations must be clearly established first. Doing so will help keep the team focused on the end goal and ensure everyone is on the same page. When setting goals, it's important to be clear and concise in your messaging.
Each goal created requires a specific (but still flexible) workflow, meaning that each goal should have the following:
A timeline
A definition of success
Clear roles and responsibilities
A detailed account of the resources needed
An assessment process for measuring results
Creating a goal-driven environment will ensure everyone on the team is working towards a shared vision. It also helps instill a sense of ownership in your team members as they work to achieve these goals.
Creating an Engaging Environment
When managing a software development team, creating an engaging environment is one of the most important aspects. The key here is to ensure that everyone on the team feels valued and appreciated for their work.
Monetary incentives only go so far in an industry that is constantly evolving. Instead, focus on providing an environment where everyone feels comfortable expressing their ideas and one that encourages learning and growth. You can do this through rewards such as:
Paid upskilling opportunities
Paid seminars and workshops
Career-enhancing degree programs
Team-building activities
Bonuses and perks
Promotions from within
Sincere words of appreciation
Finally, take time to discuss any issues or concerns openly and honestly. Doing so will help to foster a culture of trust and respect in the team, which is essential for any successful software development process.
Cultivating a Culture of Ownership & Accountability
Developing a culture of ownership and accountability is essential when managing a software development team. This means that team members should take responsibility for their tasks and performance while also understanding the importance of collaboration with other team members.
Encouraging everyone to take ownership of their work is essential to feel personally invested in the project. Additionally, providing feedback to team members on their performance can help them stay accountable and improve.
How to Hold a Software Development Team Accountable
Holding a team accountable for work performance does not translate into micromanaging. Instead, treat it as an opportunity to recognize and reward team members who go above and beyond while providing constructive feedback to those who need it.
To do this effectively, you'll need to find ways to:
Effectively balance quantitative (measurable) and qualitative (observational) data when evaluating the team's performance.
Provide timely and honest feedback to team members.
Encourage creativity and risk-taking among the team.
Staying in lockstep with the team throughout the product lifecycle.
Protecting Your Team from Time Drains
Most of the time, you'll be playing offense with your software development team. There are times when you'll need to play defense too. Playing defense means protecting them from time drains that can come from either external or internal sources.
External time drains include customer requests, unplanned tasks, or project scope creep. These can all eat away at the team's productivity if left unchecked.
Internal time drains can be more insidious, such as team members not meeting deadlines or not taking ownership of their tasks. It's important to monitor progress regularly and intervene to ensure that all tasks are completed on time and with the required quality standards.
By spending the necessary time and energy protecting your team from these common time drains, you can help ensure that everyone on the team is as productive and successful as possible.
Become an Expert at Properly Sizing Tickets
Aside from interoffice time drains, properly sizing tickets is another big challenge when managing a software development team. This means understanding how long each task or feature should take and allocating enough resources to complete it correctly.
To do this effectively, you'll need to become an expert at estimating how long each ticket will take. You can use numerous techniques and methods, such as story points or planning poker, to help you accurately size tickets.
You'll also need to ensure the team is properly staffed; tasks will take longer than expected if understaffed. When in doubt, it's always better to overestimate how long a task will take to ensure the team is prepared for potential issues.
Knowing About New Technologies & Best Practices in Development
This is a BIG one. In an ever-evolving industry like software development, software development management must stay educated on the latest technologies and best practices. Even with a non-technical background, managers should at least have a general understanding of the technical aspects of development.
This doesn't mean you need to become a software developer yourself, but it's important to understand the basics and be aware of new developments in the industry. Doing so will help you make more informed decisions and confidently lead your team.
Some of the areas you'll want to keep an eye on include:
Coding standards
Framework developments
Debugging tools
New or proposed regulations
Cloud technology
Security trends
These are just a few topics you should stay on top of. Doing so will help you manage your team more effectively and provide invaluable insights that could ultimately benefit the product you're developing. Additionally, it helps maintain a healthy level of knowledge-sharing within the group.
Staying Ahead of the Curve with the Competition
No matter what type of software you're developing, competition in the marketplace is bound to exist. Studying and understanding the competition is important to ensure your product is always one step ahead.
This means looking at their features, understanding the target users they are catering to, and keeping up with their latest developments. You can do this through market research, customer surveys, and competitor analysis.
By staying ahead of the competition, you can ensure that your software product has a competitive edge over its rivals regarding features and user experience. It also helps inform the team's decisions around feature development, so they can focus on creating something that will truly set your product apart.
Developing Learning & Communication Channels
Developing learning and communication channels is important when managing a software development team. This helps ensure that everyone is on the same page and that tasks are being completed in an organized manner.
For example, setting up weekly meetings or using collaboration tools like Slack or Skype can keep lines of communication open between team members. Creating a learning portal where team members can access resources or tutorials can help new developers stay updated with the latest technologies.
No matter what channels are chosen, it's important to make sure they are accessible and effective to ensure everyone on the team is informed and collaborating effectively. A tool is only as good as its user, so ensure the team uses them correctly and information is appropriately shared.
Fostering Healthy Conflict Resolution Techniques
Conflict is inevitable when managing a software development team, but it's essential to make sure that the team knows how to handle it healthily.
Fostering an environment of open communication and encouraging team members to speak up can help avoid misunderstandings. Additionally, providing conflict resolution techniques such as role-playing or brainstorming can be beneficial in helping the team learn to work through disagreements.
Tips for Handling Conflict Resolution
Ultimately, making sure that everyone on the team knows how to handle conflict and works together towards solutions that benefit the whole team. Here are some tips for resolving conflicts:
Encourage open dialogue and keep an open mind.
Acknowledge the other perspective and try to understand it.
Focus on finding a solution, not assigning blame.
Have each team member take turns presenting their point of view.
Brainstorm possible solutions together as a team.
Sometimes you'll find no simple resolution, but remember to be patient and work through the conflict with an open mind.
Setting Goals & Metrics for Success
With a clear goal in mind and the proper metrics, it can be easier to measure the success of a software development team. Setting up goals and metrics for your team is an important part of managing a successful project. This could include, but is not limited to:
Setting deadlines
Tracking progress
Measuring quality assurance standard
Completion rates
Bug resolution times
Lines of code written
Knowing these numbers can help managers identify areas where the team could improve and set goals for success. Ultimately, they help ensure that everyone on the team works towards a common goal and can measure progress.
How Remote Teams Can Achieve Synergy
As if managing an in-office team wasn't challenging enough, managing a remote software development team can be even more difficult. However, with the right strategy and tools, it's possible to keep everyone on the same page and achieve synergy.
The key is to leverage technology to create streamlined systems that facilitate communication, collaboration, and accountability. This could include:
Utilizing video conferencing for meetings
Setting up automated workflows
Creating shared documents and task lists
Using project management tools to track progress
These tools can help remote teams stay connected, organized, and motivated. With the right strategies in place, it's possible to manage a successful software development team no matter where they are located.
Going Beyond Remote Work Tools
Tools are helpful but can't account for certain aspects of managing a multi-state or multi-national team. Culture, language, and geographic barriers can create challenges and must be addressed for the team to succeed. To help your team overcome these hurdles, there are two things you can do:
Ensure the Team is Trustworthy
When hiring developers from abroad, ensure they are trustworthy and capable of meeting your team's needs. Confirm that developers have the proper qualifications, certifications, and prior experience in similar development projects.
Encourage Cultural Exchange
It can be challenging for remote teams to build a cohesive culture if cultural barriers exist. Encouraging cultural exchange and open dialogue can help bridge the gap between team members. Consider hosting virtual events where everyone can share their cultural experiences and views on the project.
Allocate Tasks Based on Overlapping Time Zones
Time zones are often seen as barriers to collaboration but can be leveraged as an asset. Allocate tasks based on overlapping time zones so that important team members can work together during certain times of the day. With the right strategy, remote teams can achieve greater synergy and work more effectively.
Tips for Improving Your Managerial Skills
Now that we've covered many of the duties, responsibilities, and techniques involved in managing a team of software developers, here are some helpful tips for improving your software development management.
Establishing Yourself as a Thought Leader
Again, this is not an area where you will need a technical background to manage the team effectively. To do this, you'll need to stay on top of trends, maintain a growth mindset, and be open to learning new approaches for addressing team challenges.
Be Flexible
The software development space is constantly evolving, so it's vital for you always to remain flexible and ready to adapt to new trends and technologies. Additionally, understanding the needs of different team members and making adjustments accordingly can help create a more harmonious work environment.
Venture Beyond Your Comfort Zone
Even if you're a non-techie manager, you can still provide valuable insights and strategies to your team. Try to venture outside of your comfort zone regularly and take the time to learn more about software development, as well as the latest trends in the industry. Doing this will not only benefit your career but also help make you a better leader for your team.
Keep an Open Dialogue
Open dialogue with your team is key to managing a successful software development team. Encourage the team to communicate often, discuss challenges, and develop solutions that benefit the whole group.
Practice Active Listening
Active listening is necessary for any manager, especially when leading a software development team. This involves hearing what people are saying, being attentive, and understanding their thoughts and feelings. Taking the time to listen to everyone's ideas and offering constructive feedback can help ensure everyone is on the same page.
Mach One Digital - Your Assistant Coach on the Road Ahead
It's been a long road, but you now have the tools and techniques to successfully manage a software development team. Remember that it can be challenging, and managing a remote team can be incredibly challenging. That's why having an experienced partner like Mach One Digital can be beneficial.
We've helped countless clients quickly take their software development projects from concept to completion. With Mach One Digital as your assistant coach, success is only a few steps away. Whether you need help managing your software development team or want advice on the best technologies, our experienced experts can guide and support you at every step. Contact us today to see how we can help you.