Transcript Managing Mutli-site Development Teams

Managing Multi-Site
Development Teams
William McGehee
VP of Business Development
GameSim Technologies
WildBilMcG
About me
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GameSim Technologies
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EA Sports – Canada
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Director – Portfolio Management Office
Hansoft
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VP of Business Development
Senior Production Expert
EA Sports
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Senior Development Director
Factors
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Culture
Type of work
Scope of work
Work experience
Communication
How you/they work
Intercultural Differences
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Intercultural Study
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Cultural differences
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Power Distance
Individualism
Uncertainty Avoidance
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http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/
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Power Distance
This dimension relates to the degree of
equality/inequality between people in a particular
society.
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A country with a high Power Distance score both
accepts and perpetuates inequalities between people.
An example of such a society would be one that follows
a caste system and in which upward mobility is very
limited.
A low Power Distance indicates that a society does not
emphasis differences in people’s status, power or
wealth. Equality is seen as the collective aim of society
and upward mobility is common.
Power Distance Map
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90
80
PDI Level
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60
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40
30
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10
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Series1
United
States
40
Canada
China
Russia
Argentina
UK
India
39
80
93
63
35
77
Individualism
This dimension focuses on the degree to
which a society reinforces individual or
collective achievement and interpersonal
relationships.
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If a country has a high Individualism score, this
indicates that individuality and individual rights
are dominant.
A low Individualism score points to a society that
is more collectivist in nature. In such countries the
ties between individuals are very strong and the
family is given much more weight.
Individualism Map
Chart Title
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90
80
Axis Title
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Canada
48
Romainia
90
Russia
95
Argentina
86
China
30
India
40
Uncertainty Avoidance
This dimension concerns the level of
acceptance for uncertainty and ambiguity
within a society.
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A country with a high Uncertainty Avoidance score
will have a low tolerance towards uncertainty and
ambiguity.
A low Uncertainty Avoidance score points to a
society that is less concerned about ambiguity and
uncertainty and has more tolerance towards
variety and experimentation
Uncertainty Avoidance Map
Chart Title
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90
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Axis Title
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Canada
48
Romaini
a
90
Russia
95
Argenti
na
86
China
India
US
30
40
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Distributed Development Vs.
Outsourcing
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Distributed Development
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Extension of the team
Working directly/continuously with the main
team
Outsourcing
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Fully implemented work
Specific Skillsets or
Generally lower cost center
Keep in House
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Core Systems
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Engine Technology
Platform (Online)
DBs
Features
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Core Gameplay/Game Modes
Out of House
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2nd - 3rd tier technology
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User Interface
Billing
Features
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General Gameplay
Game Modes
Web/mobile functionality
Work History
What typical products have they
developed
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Small/large scale
Complexity
References
Ability to travel
** Try before you buy…
It is all about Communication…..
What is the communication plan
• Who owns the overall vision
• Who is responsible at each site for making
decisions
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Avoid centralized decision making
Continuously share the vision
It is all about Communication…..
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Provide multiple communication paths
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Daily Standups
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Video Chat
Continuous communication
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Text Chat
Phone
**Ensure these systems work and are
always available**
Get your teams face to face
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Key points for person to person contact
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Pre-product
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Production
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What is the concept/goal for the project
Talk about how things will work
Expectations on quality
Review final designs
How are we splitting the work
Alpha
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Process for managing defects
Process for shutting the product down
Dealing with time zones
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What are the common working hours
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Can you shift development times closer?
Who stays late/who gets up early?
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Multiple time zone impact
Consider impact to efficiency when selecting
partners and development type
Know your team members
How do individuals work in each geo
location?
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Self Starters
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Ability to handoff work with little oversight
Can work from basic information
Directed Developers
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Require specific direction and oversight
Prefer well documented instructions
Project Methodologies
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What methodologies will each location use
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Agile, Waterfall, Lean/Kanban
What is the level of experience with the
selected methodologies
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Do the remote teams choices work with the
main teams
How are the key metrics tracked
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Does everyone understand their role
Project Management Suite
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Unified project management tool
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Accessible from each remote location
Allows remote location to manage “their”
work
Support the development methodologies
teams use
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Agile, Waterfall, Lean/Kanban
Encourage communication process
Allow project leadership to get a high level
view of project data
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Ability to dig into the details
Summary
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Culture
Type of work
Scope of work
Work experience
Communication
How you/they work