4 Mistakes to Avoid When Building extended Development Teams

Building extended development teams is a crucial step for any company seeking to strengthen its technological capabilities. However, CTOs (Chief Technology Officers) and CIOs (Chief Information Officers) need to be vigilant to avoid mistakes that can compromise the efficiency and quality of their projects.

This article explores the four most common mistakes and provides practical advice on how to avoid them.

What is an extended development team?

Extended development teams integrate additional members, often based abroad, to complement the in-house team. This model provides access to specialized skills, optimizes costs and maintains flexibility.

1. Confusing Team Outsourcing with Dedicated Team Building

Key differences:

Outsourcing means handing over projects to external companies, while building a dedicated team means hiring developers who become an integral part of your organization. A dedicated team ensures alignment with corporate objectives and better quality of work over the long term.

Why choose a dedicated team?
 

• Long-term commitment: Integrated developers are more committed to the company's vision.
   
• Better communication: Fluid communication is essential to avoid misunderstandings and delays.
   
• Quality control: Having a team under your direct control guarantees high quality standards.

2. Assessing Cost Rather than Value

The Mistake of Focusing on Cost:

Opting for an alternative based solely on cost may seem economically viable in the short term, but it can be expensive in the long run. Cheaper solutions may hide additional costs and inferior quality.

Evaluate added value:
 

• Skills and Expertise: Check the skills and achievements of potential candidates or partners.
   
• Return on Investment: A more expensive but more experienced team may offer a better return on investment in terms of productivity and quality.
   
• Hidden Costs: Make sure you understand all associated costs, including potential hidden charges.

3. Neglecting the Integration of Extended Team Members

Importance of Integration:

Extended team members need to be fully integrated into your organization. Excluding them from key discussions or important decisions can lead to disconnection and reduced productivity.

Strategies for Good Integration :
 

• Regular Communication: Use communication tools for regular meetings and updates.
   
• Project Inclusion: Involve them in all aspects of projects, just as you would your in-house team.
   
• Corporate Culture: Make extended team members feel part of your corporate culture.

4. Lack of clear planning and roadmaps

Importance of a Roadmap:

Detailed planning and a clear roadmap are essential to guide an extended development team. Without it, there can be disorganization and costly delays.

Key elements of good planning:
 

• Clear objectives: Set clear, measurable goals for your team.
   
• Realistic deadlines: Set realistic deadlines, taking into account the team's capabilities.
   
• Resource Allocation: Ensure that the necessary resources are available and well distributed.

Practical Guide: For effective planning, follow these steps:
 

• Identify Needs and Objectives: What roles are needed? What are the project objectives?
   
• Select the Right Approach: Short-term project or long-term product?
   
• Select Potential Partners: Don't settle for the first partner you find. Compare several options.
   
• Check Partners: Examine their models, pricing structures, certifications and case studies.
   
• Informed Decision: Go back to your initial assessment to make the right choice.
   
• Full Integration: Ensure that new members are fully integrated into your systems, workflows and culture.

Bonus Mistake: Not Taking Cultural Differences into Account

Understanding Cultures:

Working with international teams also means understanding and respecting cultural differences. This can affect communication, working methods and expectations.

Tips for managing cultural differences:

• Cross-cultural training: Offer training to raise your team's awareness of cultural differences.
• Clear communication: Be clear and precise in your communications to avoid misunderstandings.
• Flexibility: Adapt to different working methods and schedules.

Esokia helps you build your extended IT development teams

Building effective IT development teams is a challenge, but by avoiding these common mistakes, CTOs and DSs can build effective and efficient web development teams.

By focusing on skills diversity, cultural compatibility, communication and professional development, companies can not only improve the productivity of their IT development teams, but also foster a positive and stimulating working environment.

Contact us to find out how we can work together to achieve your technology goals.