Your team follows specific coding standards. How do you navigate when a client demands conflicting practices?

When a client requests coding practices that conflict with your team's established standards, a strategic approach is necessary. Understand the Client’s Perspective: Initiate a conversation with the client to understand the reasons behind their specific coding practice requirements. Evaluate Compatibility: Compare the client's coding practices with your team's standards. Propose Solutions: If the client’s practices are feasible, suggest a phased approach to gradually integrate them, ensuring minimal disruption to the ongoing project. Communicate Benefits: Explain the benefits of your team's coding standards, such as improved code quality, maintainability, and team efficiency.

Action: Conduct a thorough assessment to identify the client's specific needs and reasons behind their demands. Considerations: Gather detailed information about the client's project requirements, business goals, and any constraints they might have. Outcome: A clear understanding of the client's perspective and how it aligns or conflicts with your team's standards.

Action: Arrange a meeting to explain your team's coding standards, emphasizing the long-term advantages like maintainability, scalability, and security. Considerations: Use examples and case studies to illustrate how these standards have positively impacted previous projects. Outcome: The client gains an appreciation for your practices and understands their importance.

To be seen from the perspective of client, he is actually demanding a MVP which he can see working without breaking! The keyword and the main part to identify in this that it should work without breaking, and that would be a concern for the client as well. This is where you can pitch about your coding practices and standards, educating him that this will help you write cleaner code, which is more reliable, maintainable, and easy debuggable in an event of an error! To make him convinced that it’s for his good is the part when he will be willing to understand and not ignore such practices which are industry standards!

Educating the client on coding standards involves clearly explaining the rationale behind your team's practices and their impact on the project's success. Highlight the benefits of adherence, such as improved code quality, easier maintenance, and scalability. Use concrete examples and case studies to illustrate how following these standards can lead to more reliable software and reduced long-term costs. Foster open communication to address any concerns or questions the client may have, ensuring they understand the value proposition of aligning with established best practices.

Action: Brainstorm and propose alternative solutions or practices that meet the client's needs without compromising your standards. Considerations: Identify any areas where flexibility is possible without sacrificing quality or best practices. Outcome: A set of mutually acceptable coding practices that incorporate both the client's requirements and your team's standards.

Action: Establish non-negotiable aspects of your coding standards and communicate these boundaries to the client. Considerations: Be transparent about the potential risks of deviating from critical standards and the impact on project outcomes. Outcome: The client is aware of the essential practices that must be adhered to and why they are crucial.

When faced with client demands for coding practices conflicting with your team's standards, it's crucial to respectfully assert the importance of your established guidelines. Clearly communicate the benefits of your standards in terms of code quality, maintainability, and project sustainability. Offer to discuss alternative solutions that can meet the client's requirements without compromising foundational coding principles. Maintain open dialogue and seek a collaborative approach that balances client needs with long-term technical considerations.

Action: Create a document outlining the agreed standards, practices, and any exceptions or compromises made. Considerations: Ensure both parties review and sign off on the document to avoid future misunderstandings. Outcome: A clear and documented agreement that serves as a reference throughout the project lifecycle.

Action: Implement regular code reviews, automated testing, and continuous integration practices to maintain code quality. Considerations: Monitor the project closely to ensure adherence to the agreed standards and address any issues promptly. Outcome: Consistently high-quality code that meets both the client's requirements and your team's standards.

Communication and Collaboration: Maintain open lines of communication with the client throughout the project. Foster a collaborative environment where both teams can share feedback and ideas. Flexibility and Adaptability: Be prepared to adapt and make adjustments as the project evolves while staying true to core principles. Continuously evaluate the effectiveness of the agreed practices and make improvements as needed.

I have faced such situation many times and I try to educate my client. In case, if he doesn’t agree I make a list of consequences that may come and try to take steps to minimize them and in the end if the output has more benefit then I try to set boundaries so it should not be converted into a loss.