Software Development Company: Guide To Roles, Team Structure & More
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In today’s digital world, software has taken center stage. Every aspect of our lives - from the way we work to the way we communicate and how we control home appliances - is governed directly or indirectly by software.
But what goes into the making of this omniscient and potent force? Who is responsible for fashioning the software we run our daily lives on? For that, you will have to tap into the structure of a typical modern software development team.
Whether you are a startup founder, a business owner or a non-technical stakeholder, having a sound understanding of the main roles, team structure and steps to assembling your own software dev crew can help you collaborate better and hire smarter.
This guide will give you a clearer picture of everything you need to know about a software development company!
Central Roles In A Software Development Company
Here are the core roles every good quality software development company will have on their team.
1. Project Manager
The backbone of any good software development team, a project manager handles the timeline, scope and budget of a project.
Their job is to ensure the software stays on track and aligns with as well as meets the core goals of your business.
Coordination across cross-functional teams, efficient allocation of resources and maintaining the flow of communication between stakeholders and the technical team falls under their purview.
You can say a skilled project manager dons many hats. After all, they also anticipate risks before those turn into roadblocks, and play a crucial role in agile environments, often adopting the responsibilities of a Scrum Master. That said, strategic planning and external communication are their core everyday functions.
2. Business Analyst
Custom software development requires background work, which is conducted by a business analyst. But that’s not all they do. A typical business analyst is the main link in the chain of a software’s intended goals and its technical execution.
The key information gatherers of any project, they collect insights through stakeholder interviews, market research, and data analysis to refine requirements and ensure that the development team understands those requirements.
Business analysts can prevent costly reworks and revisions by clearly documenting an actionable plan. In fact, their role involves closely working with the Project Manager in this regard, thus aligning scope, priorities and user expectations.
3. Software Developer
If you are wondering who is responsible for building a software, this is your answer. Software developers are no less than mavericks who can turn ideas and requirements into fully functioning codes.
It’s not an overstatement to say that without them, there wouldn’t be any software or apps. Responsible for writing, testing and maintaining the software that powers platforms, apps and systems, software developers are crucial contributors to the basic architecture of any digital product.
Their contribution is also invaluable in debugging issues and implementing new features. That said, depending on their area of focus and expertise, software developers are of three types:
- Front-end: develops user interface
- Back-end: develops server-side logic
- Full-stack: develops both
4. UI/UX Designer
Think of the last time you used an app or a software that was absolutely delightful to interact with. Navigating through it felt intuitive because the UI/UX designer made it so.
A UI/UX designer is a master at the art of creating visually and functionally optimal software that shapes the entire interaction of a user with the said digital product.
How do they do that? By performing in-depth user research to gather valuable insights such as their behavior, core pain points and expectations.
They then use this information to build the wireframes, mockups and interactive prototypes of the software they are working on. Needless to say, it’s constantly tested and reiterated to ensure the software strikes the perfect balance between aesthetics and usability.
A UI/UX designer’s main job is to design and refine the interface until it delivers smooth performance, easy accessibility and customer satisfaction.
5. Quality Assurance Engineer
To ensure your business ends up with a reliable, high-performing software that supports its various processes, you need a quality assurance engineer to step in.
Before the software goes live, a quality assurance engineer designs and executes multiple test cases - both manual and automated - and subjects the software to them. This helps in catching bugs, spotting glitches and detecting performance issues.
A quality assurance engineer will work closely with developers and the product team to quickly iron out these issues at every stage of the development cycle. This helps them ensure that any new feature or update works exactly as intended without adversely impacting the software’s existing functionality.
As their title suggests, keeping the quality of the software intact with the help of specialized tools is a key part of their job. Whether you opt for an operations software or an inventory management system, letting a QA engineer test it out before launch is a must.
Now that we have wrapped up core roles, here’s what you need to know about each role in a nutshell:
Choosing The Best Team Structure For Your Project
Any software development company will typically follow a set team structure. But how do you know which one is the best of the lot? How do you find out which team set-up aligns with the software goals of your company?
After all, a study found out that teamwork quality has a 28.5% impact on project success, so choosing wisely is a must. Fortunately, it’s not that tough. You simply have to assess each team structure against your requirements to find the perfect match.
Dedicated Teams
If highly complex products built on a large-scale is what you require, it might bode well to have a dedicated team take care of it. Since they are fully committed to a single project, you can expect laser sharp focus from them. Plus, better alignment with project goals is also a given. Consider them to be the best choice for long-term projects with evolving requirements.
Cross-Functional Teams
Cross-functional teams offer a more cohesive and efficient workflow, which makes them ideal for mid-sized projects. Made up of members such as designers, developers and testers, these teams bring a ton of different expertise to the table, thus improving collaboration while reducing handoff delays. For example, at Vestra Inet, we have cross-functional teams made up of talented individuals who are always ready to tackle the challenges of your software project. Meet our super team!
Distributed Teams
If your project requires round-the-clock development cycles, a distributed team can help you. Leveraging the best of talent across different geographies, they offer a time-zone advantage, allowing 24x7-on businesses to function without disruptions. However, clear communication is key to maintaining cohesion in this kind of a set-up.
How To Assemble Your Software Development Team
Building the right software development team is critical. However, it demands a well-thought out and strategic approach. Especially if you want to end up with the right mix of skills, roles and communication as each of them is a must-have for developing a successful digital product. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Step #1: Identify Project Requirements
Scope, timeline and objectives - these will vary for each project. Gain a deep understanding of these three - specifically about ‘what’ you are building and for ‘whom’. Answers to these questions will serve as guiding principles of every subsequent hiring decision you make.
Step #2: Have Clearly Defined Skill Sets
The varying requirements of different projects will determine the technical and functional roles they need for its completion. Hence, having properly outlined skill sets will help you pick and choose the roles most suitable for the task at hand. Depending on the complexity of the work, you may need developers, designers, QA specialists, a project manager, and others on your team.
Step #3: Recruit Shortlisted Roles
Use leading job portals to look for candidates that have the experience you need and can prove to be a great cultural fit. Structured interviews are a great way to sieve through candidates. Only onboard candidates after you are satisfied with their technical and collaborative abilities.
Step #4: Set Up Communication Channels
Boost collaboration and keep miscommunication at bay by establishing clear communication channels. You have a wide array of tools at your disposal to facilitate regular check-ins, updates, and feedback such as Jira, Zoom, Slack etc. You can guarantee cohesion and productivity with these tools.
Step #5: Establish Clear Goals & Milestones
Success is an achievable target for everyone if you have clearly defined deliverables, timelines, and checkpoints in place. A small piece of advice? Team efforts should align with project timelines to keep the software development process on-track.
How To Manage Your Software Development Team
Hiring your team is just the start. The next item on your agenda should be running it right. While it may seem like a complicated affair, using proven strategies can help you become a team-lead wiz. The kind that knows how to enforce smoother workflows, stronger collaboration and better outcomes at each stage of the software development lifecycle. Here’s how:
1. Prevent Task Overlap
When too many cooks are working on the software broth, some overlap may happen, leading to confusion. You can avoid this scenario by ensuring each team member knows exactly what their contribution is to the project. The result? Greater efficiency and accountability guaranteed.
2. Keep All Communication Channels Open
Foster transparency among your team members to maintain alignment across the board. Hosting regular check-ins will help you track progress and put out fires (if any) in real-time.
3. Use Agile Methodologies
When building a software from scratch, it is crucial to have a flexible framework in place. Adopting agile methodologies such as short, iterative development cycles and regular feedback loops can help your team quickly adapt to changing requirements while keeping key stakeholders informed.
4. Promote Continuous Learning
As technology evolves, it is critical for you and your team to maintain relevance. Upskilling courses, certifications and knowledge-sharing workshops can help you and your team stay competitive.
Conclusion
Successful software development stories have one thing in common - they are built on well-structured teams. When you have the right team on your hands with clearly defined roles and great collaboration between them, nothing can stop you from getting on the peak of software success.
After all, great software isn’t just a result of a code - it’s about the people behind it. That said, if you want to partner with a well-rounded and highly skilled development team, Vestra Inet could be your perfect match! Contact us to know more about our curated team and discover how they develop complex software.
FAQs
1. What are the main roles in a software development company?
Project Manager, Business Analyst, Software Developer, UI/UX Designer, and QA Engineer are the main ones.
2. How to choose the right team structure?
By analyzing your project goals as each team - dedicated, cross-functional, and distributed - suit different needs.
3. Why is it important to have clear roles and goals for the team?
To boost accountability and prevent confusion at every stage of the software building process.
Author Bio
Andrey Wool
Helming the operations at Vestra Inet, Andrey has over 20 years of leadership experience in the ERP industry. Having successfully launched 550+ software projects across a diverse set of industries, Andrey continues to transform the way businesses function with pioneering custom software solutions. His in-depth knowledge of sectors such as manufacturing and distribution has helped him curate actionable solutions that eliminate bottlenecks and pave the way for sustainable growth.
