Changing Development Teams? Here’s How to Do It Right

We know…switching software development teams can be daunting. But it doesn't have to be! Welcome to Pro TechTales, where we turn transitions into triumphs! In this special edition, we're serving up the ultimate guide to switching your development team with confidence and ease.?

Are you unhappy with your current software development team? Maybe they’ve not been delivering the quality you expect for a while? Or perhaps you’ve encountered hard communication with many misunderstandings and slowed down timely delivery? Whatever the reason, deciding to transition to a new development team is an important step that should not be taken lightly.

However, it’s often worth it! According to Info-Tech Research Group, the switch can lead to an 80% satisfaction rise.

So, let’s transform this challenge into your next big win with ProCoders by your side. Buckle up and dive in—your smoother, smarter software development team collaboration starts here!

We’ve worked with a fair share of companies who transitioned from other dev teams. Nothing to dramatize here – many providers can market themselves well and still offer poor services or try to upsell you without providing value.?

Based on our experience, if these scenarios resonate with your current situation, it might be time to consider a change:

• Skill Gaps: A lack of expertise for your project type, scale, or other requirements may slow the development and hinder its quality.
• Performance Problems: Consistent underperformance affects your business goals. The 2020 Pulse of the Profession report suggested that 11.4% of investments are wasted due to this factor.
• Poor Power (Soft) Skills: Ineffective communication can hinder team performance. According to the 2023 Pulse of the Profession report, organizations prioritizing these skills see a 4.8% average in wasted investments due to poor project performance, compared to 8.8% for those that don't. The global average is 5.2%.
• Innovation Deficit: Resistance to new ideas hampers growth and adaptability, especially nowadays.
• Cultural Mismatch: A misalignment with company values can disrupt collaboration and make efficiency plunge, jeopardizing your product’s success.

OK, let’s say at least one rings a bell, and it’s actually time to level up. But there are so many risks, right? It’s a new team, and they don’t know anything about the specifics of your project or the work done. You have to establish communication all over again.

We’ve been there, and, of course, there are ways to mitigate these risks.

Transitioning to a new team comes with its challenges, but with the right approach, these can be managed effectively:

• Knowledge Transfer: Ensure a smooth handover by documenting all critical project details, including codebases, architecture, and workflows. Regular knowledge-sharing sessions between outgoing and incoming teams can help maintain continuity and prevent information loss, reducing the risk of disruptions.
• Onboarding Delays: Minimize onboarding delays by having a structured onboarding plan in place. This includes clear documentation, training sessions, and assigning a dedicated mentor to guide the new team. Efficient onboarding helps the new team get up to speed quickly, ensuring project momentum is maintained.
• Communication Barriers: Address communication barriers by establishing clear channels and protocols. Use collaboration tools and regular meetings to facilitate open and transparent communication. This ensures all team members are aligned, reducing misunderstandings and improving overall project coordination.
• Quality Assurance: Maintain high standards of quality by implementing rigorous quality assurance practices. Conduct regular code reviews, testing, and audits to ensure the new team adheres to the project’s quality benchmarks. This helps in early detection and resolution of issues, ensuring a smooth transition without compromising quality.
• Cost Management: Control costs by setting a clear budget and monitoring expenses closely. Plan for potential additional costs during the transition phase and establish cost-tracking mechanisms. Effective cost management ensures the transition does not lead to budget overruns and keeps the project financially on track.

We’re absolutely sure you know it all about IT budgeting from one of our previous newsletters!

To ensure a smooth switch, follow our proven 11-step guide:

1. Assess Current Situation: Evaluate the reasons for switching teams and identify existing issues and desired improvements.
2. Plan the Transition: Create a detailed transition plan with clear timelines, milestones, and assigned responsibilities.
3. Select the New Team: Thoroughly vet potential new teams to ensure they possess the necessary skills and experience.
4. Finish Any Half-Done Features: Ensure the previous team completes any ongoing features to avoid burdening the new team with incomplete tasks.
5. Knowledge Transfer: Document the current project status in detail and schedule knowledge-sharing sessions between old and new teams.
6. Onboard the New Team: Provide comprehensive onboarding materials and assign a mentor to facilitate the new team’s integration.
7. Establish Communication Channels: Set up clear communication protocols and tools, and schedule regular check-ins to ensure alignment.
8. Implement Quality Assurance: Conduct regular code reviews and testing to maintain standards and ensure consistency.
9. Monitor Progress: Track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure progress and address any issues promptly.
10. Review and Adjust: Periodically review the transition process, make necessary adjustments, and collect feedback from both teams.
11. Finalize the Transition: Ensure all tasks and responsibilities are fully handed over and celebrate the successful transition with both teams.

Congratulations! You now have a professional software development team that, hopefully, won’t disappoint!

After a tough experience with a previous team, iLitigate creators turned to ProCoders for expert help.?

iLitigate, a subscription-based app for attorneys, revolutionizes courtroom procedures by streamlining document access and sharing during trials.

ProCoders tackled critical challenges to meet iLitigate's goals:?

• a Dropbox integration
• an easy subscription process
• a mobile application

Our dedicated team, including QA, frontend, and backend developers, refined the user experience and polished the software using ASP.NET for the web portal and Swift for the mobile app.

The result? iLitigate is days away from full deployment, with its beta version running smoothly and poised to transform litigation.

Switching software development teams doesn’t have to be stressful. If you want an easy and reliable transition to a professional team, ProCoders is here to help. Contact us today and make this crucial change confidently and effectively!

We can’t wait to see you in the next issue of our newsletter, where we’ll dive into another crucial topic. Don’t forget to subscribe and stay in the loop with all the latest insights!