As the world constantly evolves, the IT industry is catching up and emerging with new technologies and methodologies. One such significant change in recent years has been the growth of extended development centers. Remote teams are spread across different time zones and cultures, working towards some common goal. With this spread-out engagement model instilled into play, effective communication and collaboration amongst all those teams are crucial for their combined success.
Major hindrances to communication
Studies carried out in real-time indicated that the major problem faced by these collaborative projects is the need for more effective communication – the main hindrances being the lack of face-to-face interactions, differences in work practices and cultures, and language barriers (in the case of centers located offshore). These cumulatively add up and decrease productivity, thus, negatively impacting the growth of the parties involved. When effective communication and collaboration are involved, the parties are highly likely to deliver quality products diligently and timely.
After the global pandemic and bars placed on travel, the need for parent companies to communicate with their extended development teams has increased.
“In teamwork, silence isn’t golden, it’s deadly.”
— Mark Sanborn, entrepreneur and inspirational speaker
The silver lining
Studies reveal that India, China, the Philippines, and Eastern Europe are among the best locations for offshore software development. A massive pool of qualified software engineers and developing technology infrastructure are cycling the desired qualities in these geographical locations. Additionally, the ease of communication is another vital contributing factor. In India alone, the majority population is multilingual, and more than 10% of the population i.e. around 12 billion people are capable of communicating in English. This makes communication a success, despite the differences in cultures, work practices, and time zones. Thus, effective communication entails understanding and collaborating to eliminate challenges arising from the lack of face-to-face interactions.
Amazon and Google are two IT giants that are pro-believers in establishing EDCs and gaining software expertise from talents all over the globe. With several remote teams in place, they have implemented processes and tools that include video conferencing, shared management tools, and a strong emphasis on cultural awareness. In this way, they have continued providing innovative products and maintained their high productivity levels.
“None of us is as smart as all of us.”
— Ken Blanchard, business consultant and motivational speaker
Conclusion
There are several other key considerations involved in building and maintaining a successful Extended Development Center (EDC). However, the importance of communication as a source to mitigate collaboration can never be understated. Companies that invest in means and processes to uphold effective communication are the ones who are more likely to have high-quality work delivered to them on a platter through their EDCs.
