Conflict Management in Distributed Agile Product Development
Oct 13, 2023
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Dr. Ashay Saxena discusses conflict management in distributed product development teams, balancing agility and stability. The importance of conducting a diagnosis and understanding the conflict between flexibility and stability is highlighted. Insights on setting up distributed agile teams, emphasizing the need for contextual understanding and collaboration with managers and coaches. The research on distributed agile product development and setting up effective practices is explored, inviting discussions and questions.
Agile teams in distributed product development projects need to find a balance between flexibility and stability to ensure successful project delivery.
Contextual ambidexterity is crucial in managing the conflict between flexibility and stability in distributed agile projects. Agile practitioners should diagnose the conflict in their specific context and adapt agile practices accordingly.
Deep dives
Conflict between flexibility and stability in distributed agile projects
The podcast episode discusses the conflict that arises between flexibility and stability in distributed agile projects. Agile methodologies emphasize embracing change and flexibility, while distributed teams require stability and clarity in project definition. The research described in the episode explores this conflict and provides insights into how companies and agile teams can balance these opposing requirements to ensure successful project delivery. The conflict varies based on factors such as the level of customer involvement and the configuration of distributed teams. The episode emphasizes the need for ambidexterity, where organizations and individuals can effectively use both agile flexibility and distributed stability to manage the conflict. The episode suggests that individuals working on distributed agile projects should diagnose the conflict in their specific context and adapt agile practices accordingly.
Guidance for agile practitioners in managing conflict
The podcast episode highlights the importance of ambidexterity in managing the conflict between flexibility and stability in distributed agile projects. The research identifies contextual ambidexterity as a key factor in successfully handling this conflict. The episode emphasizes the need for individuals and teams to understand their specific project settings and perform a diagnosis of the conflict. It suggests that agile practitioners should identify the practices employed in their current setting, evaluate their effectiveness, and make adjustments as needed. By leveraging the interplay between performance elements (e.g., role clarity) and social elements (e.g., boundary spanning), teams can better manage the conflict and achieve project success.
Recommendations for technical leaders in setting up distributed agile teams
The podcast episode provides recommendations for technical leaders in setting up distributed agile teams. The research emphasizes the importance of understanding the specific dimensions of agility and distributedness within the project context. Technical leaders are encouraged to assess the level of customer involvement and the configuration of distributed teams to inform their management practices. The episode suggests that technical leaders should focus on setting up the right managerial practices, such as clarity in role specification and appropriate coordination approaches. By considering the interplay between performance and social elements, technical leaders can create an environment where distributed agile teams can effectively manage the conflict between flexibility and stability.
In this podcast Shane Hastie, Lead Editor for Culture & Methods spoke to Dr. Ashay Saxena from IBM about his research on conflict management in distributed product development teams.
Read a transcript of this interview: https://bit.ly/46Of21N
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