After the coronavirus pandemic transformed the modern work environment, the world has seen firsthand that physical presence in a workspace is not necessary for work to be done effectively.
Although a large number of software development companies have thrived with a network of remote developers prior to the pandemic. Today, an increasing number of businesses are beginning to shift to more remote workspaces.
While managing remote teams may initially seem like a challenge, it is a relatively simple task and can lead to exemplary results.
What to Expect When Working with Remote Developers
Most people may have preconceived notions regarding specific cultures or be aware of the stereotypes associated with those cultures. However, for remote development teams, it is essential that they move past these stereotypes and be open to building relationships of mutual understanding and respect.
An easy assumption is that people conduct business the same around the world, however, this is not necessarily true. Cultural backgrounds result in several differences in the way people conduct business and conduct themselves in business environments
Working in a cross-cultural environment allows developers to gain valuable insight into other cultures, however, this may lead to them assuming that an individual’s personality represents their entire culture. After learning the preferences of an individual from a certain ethnic background it may be tempting to assign those preferences to every individual with the same ethnicity. Unfortunately, In reality, Cross-cultural communication is slightly more complicated.
How to Collaborate Effectively
Working with remote developers does not have to be difficult or stressful, all it requires is effective business planning and communication.
Having a detailed plan and the desired outcome is crucial to working effectively with remote developers. Uncertainty regarding the project will lead to an increase in workload for the developer and negatively impact the standard of work. The more a developer understands the desired outcome the better they can deliver what you need.
It will also be very helpful for the developer if he is constantly provided with constructive criticism or feedback. Constructive criticism in a timely manner can significantly improve the developer’s performance as well as your personal relationship. Due to the vast experiences attained by remote developers, it may be beneficial to businesses to also take into consideration the feedback given to them by their developers.
Lastly, time zones may seem like a hurdle, businesses should not let it get in the way of successful project execution. If the time difference is significant, finding a mutual compromise on time zone management as early as possible is the most effective way to get work done.
What are the Drawbacks of Working with Remote developers
Despite having numerous significant advantages, working with remote developers may have certain limitations.
It may be difficult for remote developers to collaborate with the in-house team or even other remote developers due to the potential differences in time zones. This may result in a decrease in collaboration leading to disagreements amongst the employees regarding the development or execution of a project
Secondly, as there is no proper supervision, there may be a lack of discipline which may result in delays with submissions of projects according to their deadlines.
What are the Benefits of Working with Remote developers
Firstly, employees gain a wide variety of perspectives, allowing them to explore more options before arriving at a conclusion, resulting in them making more informed decisions. A diverse workforce also may be more equipped to handle a wider variety of issues, due to the diverse experiences and backgrounds of each Developer.
Diversity is also said to have an impact on the performance of a business. A study conducted by McKinsey shows that businesses with more ethnically diverse teams are more likely to achieve above-average profits when compared to those with less diversity.
Furthermore, business expenditure will also significantly decrease. The Business no longer has to spend large amounts of money providing all of its employees with workspaces. Along with this, Travel fees along with the difficulties of potentially having developers move to different countries are also minimized.
Lastly, remote developers are given the opportunity to work from home which may lead to an increase in morale as well as productivity. They may also feel less stressed working from home, allowing them to potentially focus more on their work achieving better results.
Furthermore, learning to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds is an essential skill, allowing remote developers as well as the in-house team to open up to various perspectives and opinions shaping their viewpoints going forward.
It is clearly seen that the pros of remote developers outweigh the cons. Irrespective of your company size, it may be significantly more beneficial to hire remote developers as it will allow you to cut several costs and attain expert services from personnel with diverse backgrounds and experiences. The information stated above would also suggest that learning to communicate effectively with remote developers may also result in a better end product.
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