Why Should You Create a Multidisciplinary Team for Software Development?

15-Second Summary: The success of any software development initiative depends on the team working on it. While there are many different team models and compositions, having a well-rounded dev team that consists of all the maestros can take the project to the next level. The concept of a multidisciplinary software development team serves this exact purpose, which this blog is all about. Keep reading to learn more!

You've come up with a promising business idea. The product is going to be one-of-a-kind and you're genuinely excited about it, and the good news is, you've got all the necessary resources to kick-start the project.

Now, what's the next step?

If our aim is to build a top-notch software product, the logical path would be to assemble a dedicated development team that includes business analysts, UI/UX designers, programmers, a project manager, and so on – all the experts in their field equipped with exceptional skills and cutting-edge technologies.

But hold on a second; Do we really need all that? Is it an absolute must-have?

The answer is no if you form a multidisciplinary software development team.

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The importance of creating a multidisciplinary team is unquestionable and we’ve come to believe on strong grounds that every business leader should realize its worth and eliminate the siloes of traditional teams.

Here’s why!

What is a Multidisciplinary Software Development Team?

A multidisciplinary software development team is a cohesive unit of agile software development, consisting of professionals with a variety of skills and expertise.

In other words, it's a group of scrum experts coming from different areas of software development, such as coders, designers, testers, solution architects, and more, who work together throughout the project to create quality software products.

Compared to traditional teams, in which each specialist works on a specific phase of the project, a multidisciplinary team takes a well-rounded approach. Everyone contributes their unique insights and knowledge to the development project so that they can solve complex challenges while meeting user needs and expectations.

Key Roles in a Multidisciplinary Software Development Team

Multidisciplinary development teams consist of a variety of roles and responsibilities. Each has a distinct perspective and coexists with others to work towards the same goals.

In every such team, you will have any combination of the below-mentioned roles:

• Programming Role

We have software developers and coders in this role. They write the code that works as a foundation or structure of the software. This includes both frontend and backend developers who respectively build the client side and server side of the product.

• UI/UX Role

UI/UX designers focus on how users will interact with the software. Their job is to create visually appealing and easy-to-use interfaces that deliver a seamless user experience.

• QA and Testing Role

Testing and QA experts look for hidden issues and bugs before the software reaches end users. The task is to find errors, fix them, and deliver a flawless product to the market.

• Project Management Role

A project manager works as a team facilitator who oversees the entire project and plans the roadmap. They constantly measure, monitor, and report progress. The main responsibility is to ensure that the team is moving forward with everyone on the same page.

• Marketing and Sales Role

Software development services are not enough; you need to deliver the product to the market to the right audience. Marketing specialists thus work closely with technicians in an agile multidisciplinary team. They come up with sales strategies and promotional channels.

• Financial Role

Right from the outset of the project, you must define your financial goals clearly, i.e., how much you’re going to invest and the ROI, both for the short and long term. This is why financial roles are an inseparable part of a multidisciplinary engineering team.

• DevOps Role

Since the multidisciplinary team approach boils down to DevOps, it’s crucial to have DevOps experts or system administrators in your team. Their areas of expertise include system monitoring and recovery, managing cloud-based systems, optimizing the deployment cycle, etc.

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Benefits of a Multidisciplinary Team for Software Development

Speaking from our long-drawn experience of working with multidisciplinary teams, we can sum up that embracing multidisciplinarity has a positive impact on the product as well as the team. Some of the important benefits are:

All-Inclusive Product Development

The software product development process is comprehensive, which means you need to approach it from multiple angles. A diverse and multidisciplinary team focuses on all aspects - technical, user-centric, and market-oriented. This holistic approach ensures that the end product is resilient and reliable before its launch.

Continuous Improvement

Since a multidisciplinary software development team can identify bottlenecks promptly and fix them with effective resolutions, it leads to a continuous circle of process improvement. They consider all the crucial elements such as turnaround time, project quality, user experience, features offered, and the overall value.

Diverse Ideas and Perspectives

One of the greatest advantages of working in multidisciplinary development teams is the exchange of different viewpoints and frames of mind.

For instance, designers prioritize visual elements and usability, developers focus on building the software, and quality engineers deal with security. All these perspectives are essential and integrating them into a cohesive team contributes significantly to the project's success.

Customer Satisfaction

Every role within the team plays a critical part in delivering products. It's imperative to have each discipline represented throughout the development process to create a robust solution that stays on schedule and within budget.

Expanded Product Scope

Traditionally, team members with specific roles would join at the allocated phase of the project. Hence, there’s a lack of a comprehensive view of the project’s evolution.

However, involving those professionals from the start allows them to make informed decisions that can substantially enhance the product. With the full picture in mind, all team members can work collectively towards achieving the shared goal.

How Should You Create a Multidisciplinary Software Development Team?

With the right software development approach and a commitment to collaboration and innovation, multidisciplinarity can deliver outstanding results. To do so without any fail, consider the following steps:

1. Identify Your Goals

Start by clearly defining the technical requirements and objectives of your project. Understanding the scope and purpose will help you determine the specific skill sets and roles needed in your team.

2. Look for Diversity

Assemble a team with a diverse set of skills and backgrounds. Look for individuals who have expertise in both frontend and backend, different programming languages, technologies, and methodologies. Diverse perspectives can lead to innovative solutions.

3. Enable Skill Sharing

Encourage team members to share their knowledge and skills with each other. Cross-training can help them understand and appreciate each other's roles, leading to better collaboration.

4. Conduct Training

Instead of big workshops and programs, create internal training events conducted by team members. Discuss the project roadmap at length with everyone and ensure everyone has a clear understanding of everyone else’s responsibilities.

5. Provide Tools and Infrastructure

Provide the necessary tools and infrastructure that the team needs to work efficiently. This includes development environments, version control systems, testing tools, and collaboration platforms.

Tips to Manage and Grow Multidisciplinary Teams

Going from total strangers to a cohesive team involves careful planning and consideration, whether it's about creating a specific feature in each sprint or executing a successful software development project.

To ensure the best outcomes, every team member should follow these practices:

• Even though there are a lot of differences in the opinions and perspectives among the team members, you need to make sure everyone stays on the same page and has one common goal to share.
• Commit to the organizational and project goals as a team. Hold each member accountable for delivering on their commitment.
• Have clear expectations from each other. Although everyone will be working together for a long time, their responsibilities differ by a thin line.
• Challenge your own ideas and learn from others. Accept different mindsets and be responsible enough to invalidate your idea if it’s not feasible.
• Collaboration is the key. Don’t underestimate the power of weekly meetings and team lunches!

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Final WordsWorking and collaborating within a team comes with its fair share of challenges, but when it comes to a multidisciplinary team, it sets a new standard for teamwork.In addition to investing time in building rapport with your teammates and discovering ways to enhance collective productivity, you'll also find yourself delving into the intricacies of their respective fields and how they influence your own.So, if this blog convinced you to create a multidisciplinary team for your next software project, consider hiring a dedicated software development team from Radixweb. We’ll assemble a team tailored to your project’s unique requirements so that you can have access to a comprehensive pool of expertise, all under one roof.Let’s connect!