Building high performing technology teams

The goal of this article is to formulate a framework that can help the growing companies to choose right kind of team structure for their technology teams. Although this framework can be applied to all kinds of teams but here the focus is on technology teams.

The three important aspects of high performing teams are - team structure, processes and people. The processes are greatly impacted by the team structure. Also, having right people at right roles is highly productive if the structure is right.

While there are multiple ways to look at team structure as functional, matrix etc. Most the time it is easier to identify the team structure as vertical team or horizontal team.

What is meant by vertical team?

A single team is responsible for complete life cycle of a feature development. Also, generally, there is a single leader who is driving the agenda for the team.

What is meant by horizontal team?

Multiple teams are involved in life cycle of a feature development. Also, there are separate leaders driving the agendas for these teams.

Below are the factors that should be kept in mind while comparing the vertical or horizontal structure.

In general, scenarios where vertical teams perform better?

1. The team is working on limited technology stack and/or functional stack
2. The size of technology team is small (less than 30 people)
3. The kind of work team is doing is not changing regularly
4. Technology team is having single leader
5. The aim is to have short go to market time

In general, scenarios where horizontal teams perform better?

1. The projects are dynamic in nature
2. Micro-services based architecture is followed
3. Expertise is needed to be build in multiple technology or functional domains
4. Multiple leaders are driving the technical agendas
5. Building multi-tier technology product

It is not necessary for a organization to follow either vertical or horizontal teams as separate teams within an ecosystem can choose to be either vertical or horizontal. Both team can grow in an ecosystem, but challenge arises when such teams have to deliver together on a large project.

Once the team structure is agreed upon by management the focus should be on defining the right set of processes. I would be discussing the right set of processes in next article, where the goal would be to identify the suitable processes for vertical and horizontal teams.

Feel free to leave comments and share your thoughts!