How Agile teams interact with other departments
All software development teams need to be able to work with other departments that have a stake in the business. This includes departments that manage finances, marketing, design, and more. These departments have a huge role to play before, during, and after product launch.
Without a doubt, truly cross-functional teams perform better. They are more productive and efficient. But while an agile approach is a good fit for the software and information technology industry, you can compel every sector to follow this methodology.
This means that keeping everyone on the same page should be one of your top priorities. Unsurprisingly, collaborating across departments is not entirely different from how software development teams collaborate.
Just like the team leader in an agile software development team, having a project manager or business manager to oversee the progress of the project as a whole forge the way to more defined goals and better organization.
The project manager does not have to be an expert in any one area. But they should understand the responsibilities of each team member and relevant departments involved with the project. To put it simply, they are the task manager of the project.
Good communication is likely the most sought after attribute in any industry, no matter the job. Having good communication tools and skills will mitigate bottlenecks and boost trust – and this quality isn’t limited to any one role. Everybody on the team and otherwise should be open about their concerns, suggestions, or anything else that might affect the development process.
Setting goals that all team members and related departments are wholeheartedly invested in achieving is a surefire way to obtain more results-oriented solutions, enthusiastic engagement, and overall a better end result.