Global Software Teams

Sources – Handout Readings  Carmel “Global Software Teams”  Alexander “Virtual Teams Going Global”  Geber “Virtual Teams”  Laroche “Technology, Protocol Keep Virtual Teams Going..”  Solomon “Managing Virtual Teams”

Student Learning Objectives You should be able to:  Define a global software team  Describe the team development process  Describe obstacles to the effectiveness of distributed project teams  List and discuss management solutions for distributed project team success  List and describe collaboration tools  Explain the roles of team-building, trust, leadership, architecture, methodology, team memory, and communication for successful global IT teams

Virtual Team Drivers  Globalization of organizations  Faster product development cycles needed to be more competitive  Need for organizations to be flexible, respond quickly  Need for skills from across and outside the organization  Need for internal cultural diversity to respond to increasing diversity of customers  Advances in Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs)

Global Software Team: Definition  Collaborating on a common systems project  At least 2 sites separated by national boundaries  Led by a project manager and local managers and/or team leaders

Emerging Global Software Sites  India: 50,000 software professionals per year  Israel: 2000 high-tech firms  Others: Chile, Brazil Ireland, Finland, Russia China, Australia, Philippines  Shortages in N.A., Europe  Enabled by ICTs  Driven by outsourcing, time, money

Team Development Phases  Form Gather information about tasks and each other  Storm Surface and resolve conflict over styles, values, goals, power  Norm Achieve balance, coordination, protocols  Perform Complete tasks, handle conflict Motivation, satisfaction  Disband: Closure, document lessons learned

An Effective Team:  Gets the job done  Takes care of its members  Trust and support each other  Has confidence in its decisions  Has open, honest communication  Members’ values and needs match group’s  Listen and respond constructively  Value each others’ contributions

Tools for Team Development  Training and education management, technical  Team-building involvement of team members in planning ground rules (conflict, decision-making) professional facilitation  Reward and recognition systems promote specific behaviors link rewards to clear, achievable performance goals

Managing a Team  Assume the best about people - be kind  Fix the problem vs. finding blame  Have regular, effective meetings focused, results-oriented, action-oriented  Limit team size to 3-7  Plan social activities  Nurture team members and train and encourage team to nurture itself  Recognize individual and team achievement

Challenges to Global Teams  Loss of control Dispersed decision-making, less mgt influence  Loss of coordination Difficulties in day-to-day adjustments  Lack of communication is lean, asynchronous  Loose coupling of federated units Hard to develop shared goals, cohesiveness, trust  Cultural differences

Solution: Collaborative IT Communication tools   Groupware  Chat  Discussion  Audio-conferencing  Video-conferencing Software tools  Project management  Software configuration management  CASE Require training, leadership, support, fit

Solution: Team Building  Creating a sense of affinity, “teamness”  Collective responsibility for product  Interdependent tasks (vs. independent)  Shared rewards and recognition Tied to teamwork  Time zone awareness

Solution: Communication  Communication improvements Active listening Protocols Face-to-face when possible Building cultural awareness Team web site

Solution: Leadership  Technical, managerial, global dimensions: MERIT  Multi-culturalist / comfortable with multiple styles  Electronic facilitator: communicate visions and link actions electronically  Recognition promoter  Internationalist: follows world events  Traveler: MBFA (management by flying around)

Solution: Task Allocation linked to Product Architecture  Design the product architecture before the team  Gradual distribution of responsibilities  Module-based: Work relatively independently Formally defined components  Phase-based: Sequential hand-offs Documentation especially important  Integrated: follow-the-sun Faster time-to-market

Solution: Software Development Methodology  Common methods needed Vocabulary / terminology Norms  Often a source of disagreements between units  Need agreements in writing  Continuous updates, to team website

Solution: Telecomm Infrastructure  Reliable high- speed connections  POTS (plain old telephone service)  Does not replace travel

Management Guidelines  Lateral communication and coordination Face-to-face meetings, rotations,  More formal protocols, more informal communication  Clearly define roles and tasks within larger organizational context  Establish and foster trust  Store team memory documents and development objects  Foster awareness of culture and language