{"id":76124,"date":"2019-01-14T09:19:17","date_gmt":"2019-01-14T09:19:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/?p=75735"},"modified":"2025-05-05T08:15:53","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T08:15:53","slug":"managing-remote-software-development-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/managing-remote-software-development-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Tips for Managing a Remote Software Development Team"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every corporation, no matter how profitable, always seeks to cut down on operational costs. One of the most effective ways to reach this goal is outsourcing\u2014the practice of seeking external support for non-primary business functions, so it can focus on its core goals, all while saving time and money.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Manage-Remote-Software-Team\"<\/p>\n

The trend of hiring remote employees is a modern business strategy that combines low-cost software development and experts. A poll by <\/span>Gallup<\/span><\/a> shows that 37% of the respondents said they have dabbled in some form of remote work.\u00a0Big tech companies like Skype,\u00a0MYSQL,\u00a0SeatGeek,\u00a0and Opera have all employed outsourcing in one way or another.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether you choose to get support from a third-party located in your main office\u2019s country (onshore), a neighboring country (nearshore), or an entirely different region (offshore), learning how to properly manage a remote software team is crucial to your project\u2019s success.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Managing Remote Software Teams Effectively<\/strong><\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. \n

    Hire the right people and train if necessary<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    When recruiting your remote staff, the process should be of the same quality as when you\u2019re hiring for the main office. Naturally, you\u2019d want to work with an <\/span>experienced software team<\/span> who have the right mindset and attitude and are prepared to work in multinational environments. Experience in remote work is helpful but should not be a necessity.<\/span><\/p>\n

    You\u2019ll have to communicate with your remote developers on a regular basis, so your questions should just be the same as the ones you\u2019d ask any on-site worker. The next logical step is to train them, as it mitigates their shortcomings and weak spots while fostering positive traits. With <\/span>adequate training<\/span><\/a>, you can also compensate for the cultural differences, most notably communication concerns.<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

      \n
    1. \n

      Define work procedures<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Clearly lay out project guidelines for productivity, teamwork, and accountability to your employees. Explain the project, describe the goals in detail, and review the requirements to make sure you have all the functionality you need. Your remote team can work faster and give a more precise quote if you clearly state the vision of your project.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Your outsourced partner may be highly-experienced with businesses in your industry but remember that they\u2019ve never worked with you before. Focusing on training and orientation remote teams during the onboarding process will reduce the risk of potentially costly mistakes<\/a> in the long run.<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

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      1. \n

        Schedule communications to stay on the same page<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Working across potentially <\/span>different time zones is a challenge<\/span><\/a>, so you should strictly maintain scheduled meetings to help all offices align and organize every team\u2019s workflow. When you fail to conduct regular consultations and meetings, there can be gaps in communication, causing delays.<\/span><\/p>\n

        A good practice is to hold regular meetings with your remote team (weekly or monthly). These catch-up sessions can be used to ensure everyone is aligned on priorities, facilitate brainstorming sessions, and educate partners on new projects or products.<\/span><\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

          \n
        1. \n

          Utilize collaboration tools and test it regularly<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Outsourcing employees are nowadays made easier with <\/span>reliable collaboration tools<\/span><\/a> like Slack, Skype, Google Hangouts, etc. These programs are essential as they can help structure your teams\u2019 work and contribute to productivity. There are also tools available for instant messaging, email, file sharing, project management, productivity, among others. Don\u2019t forget to test their functionalities to figure out the tool that best fits your organizational structure and workflow.<\/span><\/p>\n

           <\/p>\n

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          1. \n

            Share and work on feedback<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Give immediate and extensive feedback on every iteration and sprint, so your remote team knows what to work on. Of course, be prepared to hear the team\u2019s feedback as well. Have a quick chat every now and then to know their perspective on things. A few good questions like what could go wrong with the project, what you could do differently, and if they have all the tools to complete the work should be enough to maintain a clear direction for the partnership. <\/span><\/p>\n

             <\/p>\n

              \n
            1. \n

              Continuous integration<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              Continuous integration<\/span><\/a> refers to keeping the source code of the program in a continuously \u201cworking state\u201d. Continuous integration is more helpful when teams are in different locations with different working hours as it can help in efficiency and productivity. When teams can\u2019t always communicate in an ad hoc way to diagnose problems, it builds discipline and maintains efficiency.<\/span><\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n

                \n
              1. \n

                Be prepared with a NDA<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                The nature of a developer\u2019s work involves a lot of proprietary code,\u00a0algorithms, and other confidential information.<\/span> At some point during the project, they may also gain access to your client database, core platform, and the company\u2019s proprietary algorithms. You should always ask them to sign a <\/span>non-disclosure agreement<\/span><\/a> before getting started for the safety of your sensitive information.<\/span><\/p>\n

                 <\/p>\n

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                1. \n

                  Have a face-to-face from time to time<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  Traveling to your remote staff\u2019s location to meet them helps you personally settle their concerns without being pressed for time. You can also consider flying your remote workers in for a short training opportunity at headquarters. This allows you to establish personal connections and inspire them with your passion and vision for the project. It\u2019s a good investment for long-term productivity.<\/span><\/p>\n

                   <\/p>\n

                    \n
                  1. \n

                    Forget micromanagement<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                    Micromanaging your employees is <\/span>never an efficient policy<\/span><\/a>; more so when you\u2019re managing outsourced workers. You may especially find it hard if you have a background in software development. So, instead of solving issues with the programming, work on communicating the project goals and concerns.<\/span><\/p>\n

                     <\/p>\n

                      \n
                    1. \n

                      Learn the social aspect of software development<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                      Your team must learn how to rely on your outsourcing partner\u2019s accountability as individuals, and to build trust at an organizational level. Help create an online community with them that aims to share knowledge, and fosters collective code ownership, a culture of learning and accountability, and interaction among team members.<\/span><\/p>\n

                      Don\u2019t let projects become siloed. Support your team as they find the most effective way to meet their objectives.<\/span><\/p>\n

                       <\/p>\n

                      Conclusion<\/b><\/h3>\n

                      With all the advantages you can enjoy from hiring a remote team for your software development, it\u2019s easy to overlook the challenges you may also face. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to discover for yourself if it\u2019s something critical to your business and if you have the resources to pull it off.<\/span><\/p>\n

                      More than having the right management strategies, clear communication with the group especially in terms of objectives and deadlines, proper tools and resources to effectively work on the project, and being flexible with their expert perspectives are some of the considerations you should have before hiring a remote software team.<\/span><\/p>\n

                       <\/p>\n

                      To find out how the seasoned experts at Intelligent Bee can help with your business\u2019 software needs, <\/span>contact us today<\/span>!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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