Extended Abstract, Intetics Inc.
4851 Tamiami Trail N, Suite 200, Naples, FL 34103-3098, United States
www.intetics.com
Keywords: Agile, Co-location, Digital Workspace, Hybrid Team, Offshoring, Remote In-Sourcing
Distributed software development makes it possible for IT teams to work on projects from across geographical lines – and modern tools make these teams more efficient, enhance communication, and cut costs. In this White Paper, you will find information on the benefits and challenges of distributed teams, the current and future market landscape, use cases, industry resources, and more. Within this abstract, you can see a detailed overview of all information contained in the White Paper.
1. Distributed Software Development Introduction
First, you will get a brief description of what the White Paper will cover: what distributed software development is, main applications, best practices, and effective tools and techniques. Get a quick summary of the scope of distributed computing, setting up a foundation of understanding for later sections of the White Paper.
2. The Full Potential of Distributed Teams for Your Business
You will learn what a distributed team is, in its simplest definition, and make the connection between COVID-19 and the increased prevalence of such teams. View statistics that indicate remote works and distributed teams are not just a trend; they’re here to stay. Examine the benefits of distributed teams, from time-effectiveness and cost-savings to talent pool diversification.
3. Preconceptions Regarding Distributed Development Teams
You will learn about the most common preconceptions about distributed teams and differentiate fact from fiction. Some of the preconceptions you will examine include poor quality of work, inadequate management, and poor communication.
4. Real Challenges
Even though you can easily address the preconceptions mentioned in the previous section, distributed development teams do have real challenges. Learn what the key issues are in this section and get strategies for mitigating each one.
5. Addressing Challenges
Learn about four Agile models that help distributed development teams address challenges head-on: Scrum, Lean, Kanban, and Extreme Programming. You will get an overview of each model and then learn about specific work patterns, including Boot Camp, Rotating Guru, Remote Pairing, Technology Alignment, and more.
6. The Model Overview
Get a glossary of key terms that are used throughout the White Paper. Each term is related to a distributed development team model, whether it’s a model itself or a strategy. After familiarizing yourself with the terms, check out the main tech providers in this industry – top players of communication, collaboration, and source control tools. Take a closer look at two industry leaders: Github and Slack.
7. Main Points in Time in the Remote Work Journey
You will examine a timeline of the remote work journey, spanning from 1973 (in which the term “telecommuting” was coined) to the present-day COVID-19 pandemic.
8. The Market
Get insight into the current and future market landscape; the White Paper pulls in statistics from Gartner and Upwork. Learn the employee performance of diverse distributed teams in comparison to homogenous teams – and determine whether remote work is viewed as a temporary measure or a strategic advance.
9. How Does Setting Up a Distributed Software Development Team Work?
You will learn the eight key lessons of setting up a distributed team: treating each team as a peer, trusting and measuring results, hiring for your company, making teams self-sufficient, establishing program management, establishing a visual architecture team, emphasizing quality, and celebrating wins.
After examining each key lesson in detail, walk through the communication paths within a distributed team. You will map out member roles and responsibilities, including those in Agile teams, standard teams, and large teams.
10. Diving Into Technical Details
You will learn all about the core components of a distributed development team’s tech stack: from cloud platforms and CI servers to containerization and real-time chat. Get recommendations for leading providers of each technology.
11. Use Cases and Main Applications
Examine real use cases that distributed development teams have worked on. You will learn about projects from a top CRM system, a cloud-based recruiting platform, and one of the US’s largest health portals. Then, look at some other companies that have distributed teams, including Zapier, Doist, and Automattic.
12. Standards Applied
You will learn eight best practices that ensure your distributed development team is as effective as possible.
13. Industry Resources
Get links to three industry resources that will help you create efficient distributed software development teams.
14. Authorities to Follow
Get an overview of leaders in the remote team software space, as well as leading companies with a distributed workforce.
15. Certifications
If you would like to coordinate a distributed development team, the three courses provided in this section will give you relevant organizational and technical skills.
16. Distributed Team Healthcheck
Is your company ready to introduce a globally distributed team model? Work through this “health check” and assess distributed work systems; by the end of it, you’ll be able to determine which one best fits your company’s needs and resources. Answer questions related to user productivity, security, and manageability.
17. Further Reading
If you’re interested in learning more about distributed development, check out the resources linked in this section.
18. Top Tips for Working With Distributed Development Teams
Get tips on how to build a healthy, transparent working relationship with your developers: learn ways to establish robust communication, manage tasks, give feedback, and build a healthy culture.
19. Summary and Conclusions
Distributed software development can bring huge benefits to your organization – but you will need to implement tools to enhance transparency and mitigate communication challenges. With collaborative software and Agile development processes, you can build an efficient team with plenty of trust between members.
References
Costs and benefits. Global Workplace Analytics. (2021, August 20). Retrieved September 22, 2021, from https://globalworkplaceanalytics.com/resources/costs-benefits.
Economist report: Future workforce: Upwork. RSS. (n.d.). Retrieved September 22, 2021, from https://www.upwork.com/press/releases/economist-report-future-workforce.
Mahmood, K. (2019, August 2). Council post: Eight key lessons in how best to organize Distributed Software Development Teams. Forbes. Retrieved September 22, 2021, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/08/02/eight-key-lessons-in-how-best-to-organize-distributed-software-development-teams/?sh=485becb0f33a.
