Development teams do not all comprise the same roles in the same proportions. Depending on the specific needs of the project - and sometimes, the stage the project is at - the right team composition, needed to achieve top efficiency, will vary. It’s also important to note that Agile teams are by necessity fairly flexible and ready to change with the circumstances. That’s why we recommend the Agile approach to clients - it’s fast, scalable, and limits risk.

What is an Agile team?

The Agile methodology enables project teams to respond to changes - on the client’s market, in project requirements, or based on user feedback - quickly and without accruing costs. Using this approach pays off particularly in unpredictable environments, which can include:

• Building an MVP for a startup and testing certain key features along the way,
• Working on an intrapreneurial project for a large company affected by shifts on the market,
• Rapid development of any project, which requires initial prioritization of basic functionality, then scaling up on that basis.

Usually, Agile teams use the Scrum framework, which structures their efforts into sprints. A sprint takes 1-2 weeks on average, and should involve completing a measurable step in the development process. Often, a sprint will end with the delivery of a feature, which can then be tested and reviewed by the client.

Another important aspect of this approach is regular communication. Agile teams hold standups to keep each other updated on what everybody is doing, schedule code reviews (to maintain top quality), client demos (to showcase their work to stakeholders), and retrospectives (to look critically at a completed sprint and find room for improvement). Agile team members must collaborate closely with each other and self-organize as much as possible, with the help of an experienced Project Manager.

The most important roles in an Agile team

The following list of roles is not exhaustive, and can only serve as a benchmark. Not all projects will need a DevOps Engineer or a Business Analyst, and not all roles need to be involved in the development process from start to finish. However, it’s good to know that your technology partner can provide you with each of these roles if need arises.

Frontend Developer

• Builds the parts of the applications that users can see and interact with,
• Focuses on ensuring top user experience and high performance,
• Uses technologies such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PWA, React, React Native, Vue.js.

If you plan for your app to be used by people other than software developers, you need frontend. And if you want your app to delight users - load quickly, have satisfying interactions and a well-organized UI - you need good frontend developers. These members of your project team will make sure your app delivers the right experience, taking into consideration factors such as context of use (inside or outside, e.g. in direct sunlight), usability (one-handed navigation, touchless control), accessibility (adjustments for color blind users), performance (loading speed), responsiveness (a highly interactive UI that provides correct feedback to users), and functionality (ensuring that the most important features are easy to find).

Backend Developer

• Builds everything that happens “under the hood” of your app - the engine that keeps everything running,
• Solves the most important problems and answer the most important engineering questions,
• Writes complex algorithms and app logic,
• Creates application architecture,
• Uses technologies such as Ruby, Python, Java, Golang, C# or Kotlin.

Backend developers are the core of any project that doesn’t rely on an existing “engine”. They do the bulk of the work involved in actually translating your business ideas into application logic and specific features. Aside from making sure the app will do what it’s meant to do, backend developers also need to consider maintenance, scalability, dependencies, security and stability. They also handle databases and data processing. It’s their job to make sure your app will work under any conditions.

Product Designer

• Translates the initial vision for a product into user-friendly designs,
• Creates optimized user journeys,
• Conducts necessary research and testing,
• Displays deep understanding of user needs and habits,
• Has the most direct influence on conversion and sales.

Product designers are often hidden behind titles such as UX Designer or UI designer, which may suggest a chosen specialization, but all these roles require an incredibly rich mix of skills. Product Designers need at least some knowledge of human psychology, branding, graphic design, current software development trends, business models, and the needs of different user groups. They are the ones making sure your app’s user experience will be of the top quality, and they do so through attention to detail, creativity, and research.

DevOps Engineer

• Ensures that your app remains operational 24/7,
• Lowers maintenance costs,
• Ensures scalability and ease of upgrading the app,
• Adjusts the app to handle changes in traffic, from low to sudden spikes.

The DevOps engineer has deep knowledge of hosting services and options, databases, and sometimes more complex server maintenance. This is the person who makes sure your website will load quickly in the countries you want to target, that your hosting infrastructure can be scaled rapidly and is secure, or that you won’t lose your data due to a natural disaster. A crucial aspect of their role is also making sure that you always pay for the hosting you need, and no more.

Quality Assurance Specialist

• Makes sure that the team’s work meets project specifications,
• Finds bugs,
• Checks user journeys,
• Works to improve product stability.

The QA expert, specialist or engineer (the exact job title varies) is one of the people responsible for ensuring that the finished product will match stakeholder expectations. They have to plan their testing and test cases carefully, to make sure that they will check everything. Additionally, they have to be masters at preparing documentation, as the results of their work need to be understandable to the developers or other team members who will fix the discovered issues. A good QA process is important, as it prevents problems from occurring after launch, when they might negatively impact user experience.

Project Manager

• The main scheduler and general problem solver,
• Organizes the team’s work,
• Makes sure team members don’t get blocked by circumstances or other team members,
• Keeps everyone up to date on project status.

This role is especially important in fast-moving projects. PMs look at what needs to be done and the resources available, and do their best to ensure that the team will operate in the most efficient way possible. They also try to keep motivation high, encourage proactive problem solving, identify and monitor risks, keep communication flowing, and deal with unforeseen events, such as a team member falling sick. They are helpful when everything is going well, and invaluable when the team encounters a new challenge.

Product Owner

• Is the main source of knowledge about the project, clients and users,
• Becomes a major advocate for the vision and requirements,
• Stays focused on delivering business value, not features.

Product Owners need a deep understanding of the context in which the team operates: the project, the client’s business, the target audience, etc. Using this knowledge, they make sure that the team is always moving towards the right goals, fulfilling requirements and building value. This is a role that becomes crucial to project success in an unstable environment, when circumstances change and all choices need to reflect business needs.

Business Analyst

• Has a good understanding of business processes,
• Is able to convert business needs into project requirements,
• Works with data,
• Makes sure the team focuses on delivering business value.

The final role on our list is the Business Analyst, a person who can help you formulate achievable, measurable business goals. They supplement the role of a Product Owner who doesn’t have the time for writing requirements. On top of that, Business Analysts create documentation, help establish the best product development strategy, and make sure the results of the team’s work meet proper quality standards.

Build your team with DEVTALENTS today

Whether you’re looking for a full project team or want to supplement an existing one with specific roles, we can help. DEVTALENTS provide highly skilled and motivated experts with deep know-how based on experience. If you’re interested in working together, let’s get in touch.