A development squad, also known as agile squads, allows teams to become more productive, autonomous, and deliver better and faster results.
The digital transformation directly impacts the market, so it is necessary to adapt to new work models.
The development squad model was implemented due to deficiencies found in the traditional Scrum, which was no longer meeting the company’s demands.
About the development squad model
This model became even more well-known after the audio streaming service, Spotify, implemented this method of work and succeeded by publishing a video about how their development teams were organized.
What makes this model more attractive to companies is its potential for gain, especially in performance.
When a company does not adopt a strategic and efficient model, it favors the bureaucratization of stages and processes, leading to problems such as:
- reduced exchange of information and knowledge
- lack of clarity regarding the area responsible for each task
- reduced innovative and creative ideas
- inability to move forward with certain projects without depending on other areas.
What are development squads?
Squad, means platoon or troop. The term originates from military strategy, but in the corporate world, it takes on a new meaning.
In summary, squads are self-managed and multidisciplinary teams of up to eight members, preferably, that focus on a common objective, that is, the same flow or product.
For example, instead of isolating teams by department, the idea is to bring professionals from different areas together so that a better and more integrated result can be achieved.
We can find this model mainly in technology companies since they bring together UI, UX, quality testing, programming, data science experts, among others. Not only for interface development but also to evaluate how these interactions are made in practice.
One of the main characteristics of this model is autonomy, meaning that regardless of hierarchy, everyone can make decisions to solve problems.
Therefore, the management of agile squads is quite different from traditional team management, especially when we think about leadership since, in the development squad model, it is not necessary to have a fixed leader, only a facilitator who can be rotational.
Characteristics of development squads
For better functioning, the model is based on the following values:
- Focus: when used correctly, focus can ensure time optimization and better concentration on one task at a time for the company.
- Purpose: having a common goal makes people come together, generating a sense of purpose and boosting team building within the company.
- Learning: in this model, knowledge can be spread equally, ensuring that everyone on the team has the same opportunities.
- Collaboration: with a good combination of skill sets, results will improve over time.
- Challenge: a challenging environment brings motivation to professionals and makes them want to improve their skills and grow professionally continuously. After all, the feeling of achievement guarantees better results.
- Safety: good psychological safety ensures self-motivated and self-organized teams, as well as a healthier environment. Projects may fail, mistakes can happen, and bad decisions may be made, but it is part of the process, and the team’s unity can overcome the barriers.
This model also requires a Product Owner (PO) and a Scrum Master.
- Development team: multidisciplinary and self-organized, the development team is composed of professionals who take care of everything from product development to testing.
- Scrum Master: they are responsible for managing a project based on the Scrum methodology. Their function is to ensure that all functions are followed in the best way possible, according to the recommendations for good execution.
All stages of a process need to go through this professional, and among many attributes, one of their functions is to ensure that processes can meet the objectives and needs of all involved, including the team, the company, and customers.
They are also responsible for leading and training the team, maintaining contact with other Scrum Masters, planning Scrum implementation, and taking care of the team’s productivity.
- PO (Product Owner): responsible for providing company knowledge in the form of requirements to the team, as well as their application order. In practical terms, the PO is the connection between customers and the development team.
They are also responsible for achieving maximum value at minimum cost and managing the product portfolio, known as the Product Backlog.
The Product Owner’s activities focus on taking care of the Product Backlog (what it contains and product development), managing the budget, and measuring the product’s results.
The performance of development squads
Before choosing a company to outsource a service, it’s important to perform some checks, such as whether the company has sufficient know-how.
And thinking about what’s best for your company, we bring you below what outsourced squads are, the advantages of adopting outsourced squads, and much more.
Outsourced development squads
The difficulty in finding good technology professionals, for example, is not new. However, the accelerated growth in this market has had a direct impact on the search for specialized professionals so that the company can have a better position in the market.
The importance of this methodology is not new, but did you know that each company has different needs, and therefore requires a squad that adapts better? That’s right!
Before knowing how to assemble your squad and knowing which company is the best to outsource this service, it’s important to know your company’s needs.
But is it worth opting for an outsourced service? The answer is yes! To adopt this model, a whole change of structure and thinking in the company is necessary. After all, before adoption, professionals need to be trained and qualified so that the expected result is achieved, which requires investment of resources and time.
With an outsourced service, it’s possible to have these professionals without a large investment, since companies like Monitora offer qualified professionals for the services.
The main benefits of opting for outsourced services are:
- Time optimization in training when the hired company already has profiles ready for the project.
- Reduced expense with an internal recruitment structure.
- Flexibility in growing or decreasing teams as needed.
- Increase in the speed of allocating professionals
What to consider to adopt outsourced development squads
See below what is necessary to make the best choice of your outsourced company.
- Capacity and availability for squad management
- Demands for specialized professionals
- Objective definition of KPIs and goals
- Diversity of the talent pool
- Specific project needs
- Familiarity with agile methodologies
Capacity and availability for managing the development squad
For success to be guaranteed, the company needs to have good team management. And to check if the company delivers this function, look for feedback from companies that have already used the service.
Demands for specialist professionals
Depending on what your company or project needs, it is important to have specialized professionals in more specific areas. And outsourcing this service allows you to invest the time you would spend on recruitment in another task, for example.
Consider what your company’s needs are, keep in mind the specialties you are looking for, and what qualifications are necessary to achieve your goals.
Objective definition of KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and goals
It is very important to take into consideration the metrics that will point to the success of your initiative with squads. All goals and KPIs must be shared with the entire team, transparency is essential.
It is also important that your KPIs can be modified and adapted if they do not meet the reality of the company.
Diversity of the talent pool
Having diversity in the talent pool of the outsourced company ensures a successful squad hire.
The professionals that are most sought after by companies to work in technology and marketing teams are:
- Front-end Developer
- Back-end Developer
- Full Stack Developer
- Website Developer
- E-commerce Developer
- Product Owner
- UX/UI Designer
- Content Writer
- Copywriter
- Traffic Manager
- Video Editor
Specific project needs
A limited view will hinder your ability to make the most of the benefits offered by the team. Therefore, before hiring an outsourced service, examine the project well and detail all its needs.
What are the advantages of adopting outsourced development squads?
Check out the main advantages:
Agility and cultural exchange: this working format inspires other departments and cells of the company, as deliveries are made in shorter cycles and generate a greater understanding of value within the company.
Autonomy and flexibility of teams: outsourcing can deliver the benefit of reducing or scaling the members of the squads, meaning that these teams are well adapted to the needs of your company, especially when it comes to productive force and skill.
ROI (Return on Investment) and Predictable Budget: a specialized team can manage and administer all demands in a more functional way, bringing a faster return on investment to the company, as the time and investment of resources, when compared to developing and hiring an internal team (such as selection, search, etc.) are much smaller.
How to boost technology in your company through development squads?
Now that you know what outsourced squads are, learn how to boost this technology in your company. Besides streaming Spotify, squads have space, mainly in the technology area, but are applicable in any segment and for any need as they are extremely versatile.
Now that you have the definition of squads, we will show you below what their benefits are and how they boost technology in your company, check it out.
- More agile deliveries
Autonomy, as we have already mentioned, is the most noticeable characteristic of this model. With it, it is possible to have greater and better agility in project deliveries, and in addition to making this whole process faster, it is possible to see an improvement in the internal and external relationship of the company.
The closer this relationship is, the better the positive view your audience will have of your company, and the greater the panorama of your business situation in the market.
In addition to deliveries, we can also mention more agile customer support, since all the time that could be wasted can be optimized, and thus, your company can still provide personalized and adapted support for any need of your target audience, improving the user experience.
- Increased productivity and proactivity
The autonomy of team members, along with the ease of communication in teams, are points that can significantly enhance results for the company.
For example, the reduced number of professionals in a team will also contribute to the gain of agility and productivity, meaning fewer meetings and fewer people involved in decision-making.
In the traditional model, many factors end up reducing productivity in project execution. We can cite, among them, bureaucratic issues that can harm the entire process and, in addition, conflicts of schedules and tight deadlines can arise.
- Better alignment
A company that has a team aligned with the execution processes of a project stands out in the market. As this model advocates for debate and greater interaction among group members, it is easier to align the project with everyone’s expectations.
This way, each member can offer their point of view and add more value to the discussion.
It is also important that the company’s culture is properly aligned with its methodology.
- More autonomy and engagement for teams
As we have already mentioned, autonomy is one of the main advantages of implementing squads in your company.
With autonomy, it is possible to allow team members to have greater participation in organization processes, thus adding more value to employees, demonstrating the importance that the company gives to its employees’ opinions and decisions in the face of tasks and challenges. This demonstration of importance reflects directly and positively in the results.
- Skilled professionals
As this model has an overview, it is expected that each member acquires a basic notion about the other functions involved in the project, in this way, the company and the professionals benefit from this process.
It is inevitable that the training of these professionals will increase, as they will be in contact with competencies, techniques, and strategies from other areas, which can result in more capable and better-trained.
How teams are formed
Squad: a multidisciplinary team, in a squad there will be a representative from the business, such as a PO (Product Owner) and a representative from the “factory,” such as designers and developers.
Guild: because we have different experiences, we are diverse, with varied needs and tastes, and sharing interests enables a more harmonious and productive environment. The guild, therefore, brings together people from various tribes and squads to generate a community for a specific theme.
Tribe: the tribe is the combination of squads. This combination happens when there are similar activities or the need for collaboration. The idea of the tribe is that communication is done in a timely manner. Here, the limit of members is one hundred (100) people, meaning that this logic is more suitable for companies or products that have a much larger workforce.
Chapter: also known as a “chapter,” here there is a grouping of people who have similar occupations or the same occupations, for example, a chapter of designers, a chapter of developers, among others.
Monitora’s development squad
Due to a rigorous recruitment and selection process and a solid experience in software development since 2010, Monitora operates with the best and most agile programming squads.
These squads can be located or working remotely, as needed and depending on the client’s project. Everything is designed and worked on to integrate the team to implement the best digital acceleration strategies.
Learn more about how Monitora’s squads can help your team grow and leverage your business, and talk to one of the experts in this company that excels in software development.
Text automatically translated from Portuguese to English
