How did we go from three people working in a small room to having plug-and-play product development teams with a variety of experts?
Our journey at Devōt began with a simple approach: consulting and implementing solutions for our clients. Over time, this evolved into a product team structure that seamlessly integrates into any project.
A product team structure isn't static; it evolves based on what you need, and what you learn works best. It wasn’t perfect from the start, but that was never the point. The goal is to learn and adapt while working with different partners and industries. Your product team structure will naturally change and improve as you gain more experience and insight.
In this blog post, we’ll share what to look out for when forming a product team structure. These practical tips will help you build a team that’s ready to innovate and succeed, no matter the project.
How we formed the product development team at Devōt
From bedroom beginnings to expert plug-and-play teams
Devōt started in one guy's bedroom. Initially, our CEO, Martin Morava, identified a recurring problem in one of our clients and proposed a solution that we would then implement.
This hands-on approach differentiated us from typical consulting firms, as we were directly involved in executing the solutions we recommended. As our reputation grew, so did our team, attracting various experts to join us.
How is our product team structured?
As we began to grow, we faced the common challenge of needing multiple specialized teams and managing them effectively.
Our product teams are designed to be plug-and-play, eliminating the forming phase and jumping straight into high performance. This concept was solidified with one of our early clients, who appreciated the immediate value we provided. Unlike most consulting firms that simply sell a project without maintaining involvement, we ensured that our teams had a deep understanding of both the client's business and the solution. This approach benefited the client by providing a ready-to-go team and enhanced our firm’s internal know-how and sense of belonging among team members.
Our typical product team structure includes essential roles such as a tech lead, product owner, project manager, developers, QA engineers, and designers. This composition ensures that every aspect of the product development process is covered, from initial concept to final implementation, allowing us to deliver high-quality solutions efficiently and effectively.
Here are some tips on how to build the perfect product team, but you can also use these tips when hiring product development teams to understand what qualities to look for in a partner.
What to look out for when building a product team
1. Know the value of diverse skillset
If you hire or work with people who share the same career paths, educational backgrounds, and thought processes as you, how will you innovate or learn from each other?
When team members come from various disciplines, such as data analysis, user experience (UX) design, market research, and software development, they bring unique perspectives and expertise. This variety enables the team to approach problems from multiple angles, leading to more creative solutions.
By valuing a diverse skill set, your product team can address every aspect of development, from understanding customer needs through user research to implementing advanced technical solutions.
2. Prioritize soft skills alongside hard skills
While technical expertise is essential, soft skills play a pivotal role in a product team's success. Communication, empathy, and problem-solving abilities are critical for enhancing team dynamics and productivity.
There are plenty of mistakes you need to avoid when you are hiring, but when you are building a product development team, you need to assess everyone's communication skills, including their ability to articulate ideas clearly and listen effectively.
At Devōt, we collected team collaboration best practices from employees' perspectives. Most of those tips involve communication and empathy. Good communication is vital for collaboration and conflict resolution within the team. Additionally, strong problem-solving abilities enable team members to navigate challenges and find innovative solutions in a dynamic product development environment.
By prioritizing soft skills, you create a product team that is proficient in its technical roles and capable of working effectively together to achieve common goals.
3. Remember, seniors were once juniors too
Having both seniors and juniors in your product team structure is crucial for fostering growth and innovation. It’s important to remember that seniors were once juniors, too, and recognizing potential in someone is key.
Seniors offer a deep understanding of the product development process and customer segments, while juniors bring fresh perspectives. This combination ensures that knowledge is passed down and that the team continually evolves. With the right guidance, everything can be learned, and by investing in new talent, you build a resilient and adaptable team.
If you look at our organizational structure a few years back, you’ll see many juniors who have since gained significant experience and worked on major projects. For example, one of our former juniors played a key role in developing our very own chatbot, Ante.
4. Don't underestimate user-centric roles
User-centric roles are crucial for ensuring that the products developed by your team meet users' actual needs and expectations. Roles such as UX/UI designers are vital in understanding and enhancing the user experience.
Including these roles in your product team structure helps keep the focus on the customer journey and ensures that the product development process is aligned with user needs. UX/UI designers ensure that the product is intuitive and accessible.
By not underestimating the importance of user-centric roles, you ensure that your product teams effectively create solutions that resonate with your target audience, ultimately leading to higher customer satisfaction and product success.
5. Work on cross-functional collaboration - You will simplify your workflow
Cross-functional collaboration is essential for breaking down silos, which are isolated units within an organization that does not communicate effectively, and fostering innovation within your product team. Product team structures that include diverse roles, such as product managers, developers, designers, and sales teams, can significantly enhance the product development process. This approach ensures that all perspectives are considered, from technical feasibility to market viability and user desirability.
Encouraging regular communication and collaboration between these different functions allows for a seamless exchange of ideas and quick resolution of issues.
6. Form a team with people who consider things from multiple perspectives
In forming product teams, it’s crucial to include individuals with a growth mindset who are eager to learn from each other. A designer can gain valuable insights from a developer, just as a developer can learn from a designer.
Challenges will inevitably arise if team members view problems solely from their own perspectives and focus only on their specific roles. It’s like the joke where architects design flying houses, and the builders must explain why they can’t be constructed. To create the best organizational structure, ensure your team understands each other’s strengths and weaknesses. This holistic approach enables the product manager to lead a cohesive, collaborative team that drives innovation and success.
7. Consider the big picture - Team chemistry
Team chemistry is one factor that can significantly impact the productivity of your product team. When hiring new team members, it's essential to ensure they can work well with the existing team. Good team chemistry means that team members share similar work ethics, communication styles, and attitudes toward teamwork. This alignment helps create a cohesive and collaborative environment.
By prioritizing team chemistry, you create a supportive atmosphere where team members feel valued and motivated to contribute to the team's success. This harmonious interaction drives better performance and more successful product outcomes. A well-structured product team with strong chemistry can effectively navigate challenges and work together to achieve common goals.
8. Establish clear roles and responsibilities
Establishing clear roles and responsibilities within your product team is crucial for maintaining organization and efficiency. A well-defined team structure ensures that each team member understands their specific duties and how they contribute to the overall project goals. This clarity helps prevent overlap, reduces confusion, and enhances accountability.
By clearly defining roles in a product team, you can streamline the product development process and ensure that each team member can focus on their strengths.
9. Focus on end-to-end ownership
Focusing on end-to-end ownership within your product team ensures that team members are involved in every stage of the product development process, from initial concept to post-launch. This approach fosters a sense of accountability and commitment, as team members take responsibility for the product's success throughout its lifecycle.
When I collected tips for the best team collaboration, our Bojan Rukavina, Operations Manager, said:
"A sense of responsibility for each team member is very important. You must be able to take ownership of your part of the work."
So, own your work! For instance, a dedicated product manager can oversee the product vision, ensuring consistency and alignment with business objectives. Developers and designers can work closely together from the design phase to implementation, ensuring that the product remains user-centric and functional.
By promoting end-to-end ownership, you encourage a deeper understanding of the product and its impact, which can lead to higher-quality outcomes and a more engaged team.
10. Does your team trust you?
Does your team trust product management? Fostering a culture of transparency and open communication is essential for building trust and collaboration within your product team. When team members feel comfortable sharing ideas, feedback, and concerns, it leads to more innovative solutions and a stronger team dynamic.
Creating this kind of atmosphere is the responsibility of all team members! No matter if you are a tech lead or designer. But, of course, others will follow the principles from the top. So, planning regular team meetings, progress updates, and open-door policies can help maintain this culture.
Transparency in decision-making processes and project status can also reduce misunderstandings and align the team with common goals.
This transparency extends to interactions with other teams and stakeholders, ensuring that everyone involved in the product development process understands objectives and expectations clearly.
11. Plan for post-launch support and maintenance
Every product owner knows that the development process never really ends. Ongoing support and maintenance, along with regular upgrades, are essential to keeping things up to date. Planning for post-launch support and maintenance is critical to the product development process, ensuring long-term success and customer satisfaction.
A dedicated support team can address any issues that arise after the product goes live, providing timely resolutions and maintaining product quality. Additionally, regular maintenance and updates are necessary to keep the product relevant and functional as market needs and technologies evolve.
By planning for post-launch support and maintenance, you demonstrate a commitment to the product's success beyond its initial release.
12. Embrace AI integration
Or, even better, look for people who are ready to embrace it! Your product team needs to be ready to work with AI.
Some may see AI as just a trend, but it's a reality that is transforming how businesses operate. At Devōt, we integrate AI into every facet of your business operations. This not only enhances efficiency but also introduces advanced capabilities that keep your product ahead of the competition. Ensuring your team is comfortable and proficient with AI tools and methodologies will be crucial for driving innovation and maintaining a competitive edge in the market.
How to hire Devōt's product development team as a service
At Devōt, we offer a comprehensive product development service that guides you from initial consultation to sustained product maintenance. If you want to partner with us and hire one of the best product development teams, reach out to us through contact form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible. A dedicated product owner will be your main point of contact!
This is our client's journey when hiring a product development team:
1. Free initial call with our consultants
Our journey begins with a complimentary initial call where our consultants discuss your project goals, needs, and expectations. Why is this? Because this ensures that you get a tailored approach right from the start, aligning our strategy with your business goals.
2. Product discovery as a compass on a development journey
Many people put product discovery in the second plan, but the truth is that 30,000 new products are introduced each year, and 95% of them end up failing. Why? Because most of them shouldn't even progress to the production stage.
Because of this, we conduct thorough business analysis and market research to identify key features and create a strategic development roadmap. This stage helps define the right product team structure, ensuring that our efforts align with your overall business strategy.
3. Transforming your digital presence with UX/UI design
Our design phase focuses on crafting intuitive and visually appealing interfaces that enhance user experience and engagement. This step is crucial for ensuring that the product meets user expectations and stands out in the market.
4. Assembling for you a tailor-made dedicated team
We then assemble a dedicated engineering team specifically selected to meet your unique project requirements. Considering that over the 8 years, we brought experts from different fields to Devōt, this team includes experts from various fields, ensuring a well-rounded and efficient approach to product development.
You might be wondering why we are assembling the team now. To achieve ultimate success, it's crucial to get the foundations right. However, if you already have these foundational steps completed, contact us to assess your current stage and organize the development team for you.
5. Keeping things up to date
Finally, we provide sustained product care and maintenance, ensuring that your solution remains efficient, secure, and up-to-date. This long-term support guarantees that your product continues to meet your business goals and adapts to changing market needs.
Keep your data safe, always!
Successful companies need to keep clients' data safe. So, when building a product team structure, you must look for reliable people who understand the importance of data security. It's not just about applying data security practices at the company level; team members in product teams must also understand why these practices are vital.
Our company ensures data security and confidentiality with our ISO 27001 standard. We enforce strict data security protocols, including NDAs, secure remote access, and compliance with relevant data protection regulations. Additionally, we conduct regular security audits to safeguard your data, ensuring that our product development teams maintain the highest standards of data protection.
We hope these tips on how to structure product teams have helped you understand what to look out for. If, on the other hand, you need a dedicated team for a project, reach out to us and let's schedule a call.
