Software developers take on their job while constantly focusing on cost-effectiveness and timely delivery of tasks. This is especially essential during an economic crisis. Stability in development processes allows for predictability. Velocity is a major factor that contributes to the stability of software development. Click here to learn more about software development velocity:
Velocity vs Performance
Software velocity refers to the amount of work that developers can do in each sprint. Meanwhile, performance concentrates on carrying out work faster and more efficiently. But team velocity dictates a product’s success.
Usually, high performance can contribute to high velocity; however, there is no guarantee of this. If a team must deliver a lot of tasks in one sprint, but they deliver these tasks anyway, their quality may be compromised. The reason is that the team has to work faster, so they can complete the tasks on hand. Velocity is about giving value while ensuring good planning and delivery.
How to Improve a Development Team’s Velocity
To improve team velocity when developing software products, the following best practices must be considered:
• Create a balanced development team. Balance is important to maintain or increase productivity. If a team has a lot of senior developers, there will always be fights over whose methods to use. Also, solutions that may be created are too complex for certain issues.
Conversely, a team composed mostly of junior developers may not get things done on time because they lack the skills to solve issues they may encounter along the way. So, to create a balanced team, it is important to have equal numbers of seniors, juniors, and regulars onboard.
• Give good feedback. When done right, feedback can improve software development team velocity. When giving feedback, it is essential to be honest. Using euphemisms, lying, or hiding one’s true feelings may backfire and hurt the team. As with any business, software development is about getting results, not about being nice. Giving good feedback means being honest about how one feels, even if this means anxiety or frustration. In some instances, leaders must shake up a team that is not performing well to remind them of what they have to do.
This can be done by being upfront about expectations from the get-go. However, giving feedback requires effort and empathy. One has to be emotionally strong to be open about feedback. This is a skill that must be worked on constantly.
