Agile Cross Functionality: Coders should indulge more in Discipline, Testers in Technology
Cross-functional teams are the latest buzzword in the Agile industry these days. Everyone should know about everything in a team to the extent that its possible to know. People should be able to switch hats from a coder to tester or tester to build guy on demand to the extent that its possible to switch.
There is no doubt that work culture in several startups and even veteran IT firms is progressing towards this kind of working style. But to achieve that isn't as easy as it sounds. Each role or job profile has its own idiosyncrasies and nuances which act as blockades when the person tries to switch roles.
Coders typically love a carefree attitude and lack of disipline for example, the combo typically comes with a creative art which is what programming is. Testers, on the other hand, are more disciplined, serious and "let's get down to business" types. Their work involves fault finding and you can't do that without having a critical and serious disposition too.
Designer is a mix of both and so is a coordinator or project manager, their work involves both creativity and methodical approach. So there is a great need to learn from each other and that can only happen when the team members shred their egos and behave like mature beings.
Project Manager, for example, is typically a senior role compared to coder or tester. But in a cross-functional team, he/she should be thought of as only a coordinator or message-bus who communicates and coordinates the activities of other team members and keeps them on the same page. Having said that, leadership is also a skill of PM though leadership shouldn't be confused with seniority or bossism here.
In order for a coder or tester to step into PM's shoes in case PM goes on leave, they should learn about things like leadership, communication skills, etc. and work on improving these skills.
It may not always be as easy as it sounds because humans have flaws and the most average or typical engineer simply isn't wired to wear multiple hats. Still, an effort could be made in this direction if the organisation wills. Engineers can be trained specifically for being cross-functional to the extent that their inherent abilities permit it.
Competition is growing at such rapid pace in our industry that this must be done in order to stay relevant in the game. Survival of the fittest is the law of nature, so the one who could not adapt to this kind of working culture is doomed to irrelevance and failure in coming years.
There is no doubt that work culture in several startups and even veteran IT firms is progressing towards this kind of working style. But to achieve that isn't as easy as it sounds. Each role or job profile has its own idiosyncrasies and nuances which act as blockades when the person tries to switch roles.
Coders typically love a carefree attitude and lack of disipline for example, the combo typically comes with a creative art which is what programming is. Testers, on the other hand, are more disciplined, serious and "let's get down to business" types. Their work involves fault finding and you can't do that without having a critical and serious disposition too.
Designer is a mix of both and so is a coordinator or project manager, their work involves both creativity and methodical approach. So there is a great need to learn from each other and that can only happen when the team members shred their egos and behave like mature beings.
Project Manager, for example, is typically a senior role compared to coder or tester. But in a cross-functional team, he/she should be thought of as only a coordinator or message-bus who communicates and coordinates the activities of other team members and keeps them on the same page. Having said that, leadership is also a skill of PM though leadership shouldn't be confused with seniority or bossism here.
In order for a coder or tester to step into PM's shoes in case PM goes on leave, they should learn about things like leadership, communication skills, etc. and work on improving these skills.
It may not always be as easy as it sounds because humans have flaws and the most average or typical engineer simply isn't wired to wear multiple hats. Still, an effort could be made in this direction if the organisation wills. Engineers can be trained specifically for being cross-functional to the extent that their inherent abilities permit it.
Competition is growing at such rapid pace in our industry that this must be done in order to stay relevant in the game. Survival of the fittest is the law of nature, so the one who could not adapt to this kind of working culture is doomed to irrelevance and failure in coming years.
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