Viacheslav Kravchuk
Working as a distributed company. Our journey.
Atwix last year
• 15 people• 1 physical office• 1 person constantly work from home• 1 time zone
Atwix this year
• 20+ people• 2 physical offices• 3 persons constantly working from home• 4 time zones
Define a distributed company?
Define a distributed company?
- a group of individuals who work across time, space and organizational boundaries with links strengthened by webs of communication technology
© Virtual Teams, J. Lipnack (2000)
stars = employees
stars = employees
GRAVITY?
IDEOLOGY
IDEOLOGY Culture Habits
Performance
IDEOLOGY Culture Habits
PerformanceActions
Commandmentsof a distributed company
#1 Thou shall be able to work anywhere
#2 Thou shall not feel left out
That is the approach to everything.
Communication
Communication
In-person communication naturally tends to suppress
electronic channels.
Communication
Communication
Telegraph ~ 1830s
Communication
Telephone ~ 1870s
Communication
Email~ 1970s
Communication
Digital communication is very new to us.
Communication
Digital communication is very new to us.
So what?
Communication• Encourage usage of digital channels
Communication• Encourage usage of digital channels• Set expected reaction time
Communication• Encourage usage of digital channels• Set expected reaction time• Graceful communication
Communication• Encourage usage of digital channels• Set expected reaction time• Graceful communication• Encourage feedback
Communication• Encourage usage of digital channels• Set expected reaction time• Graceful communication• Encourage feedback (ask for it)• 360º (peer) feedback
Communication• Encourage usage of digital channels• Set expected reaction time• Graceful communication• Encourage feedback (ask for it)• 360º (peer) feedback• 1 on 1 meetings
Changes in daily standup
Changes in daily standup• Talking object has to go???
Meetings
Changes in daily standup• Talking object has to go???• Voice or text?
Changes in daily standup• Talking object has to go???• Voice or text?• Less is more (applies to all meetings)
Changes in daily standup• Talking object has to go???• Voice or text?• Less is more (applies to all meetings)• Next change: Makers Schedule vs.
Managers Schedule
Hiring• Talent pool is much bigger
Hiring• Talent pool is much bigger• Good developer ≠ good remote worker
Hiring• Talent pool is much bigger• Good developer ≠ good remote worker• Remote work is a skill
Tracking performance
Tracking performance
Common criteria: job gets done.
Tracking performance
Common criteria: job gets done.Measurable?
Tracking performance
Example KPIs: time logged, clients satisfaction, number of bugs, etc.
Cross country challenges
Cross country challenges• Vacations, days off, national holidays
Cross country challenges• Vacations, days off, national holidays• Time zones
Cross country challenges• Vacations, days off, national holidays• Time zones• “Gettogethers”
Cross country challenges• Vacations, days off, national holidays• Time zones• “Gettogethers”• Legal issues
Core tools
Core tools
Core tools
Core tools
@slkra
Handbook really tied the room together
Conclusions
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Challenges
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Challenges• Less face-to-face time, no socialization
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Challenges• Less face-to-face time, no socialization• Higher self-discipline required
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Challenges• Less face-to-face time, no socialization• Higher self-discipline required• Harder to cultivate culture
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Benefits
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Benefits• Less interruptions, better productivity
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Benefits• Less interruptions, better productivity• Saving time on commute
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Benefits• Less interruptions, better productivity• Saving time on commute• Freedom boosts creativity
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Benefits• Less interruptions, better productivity• Saving time on commute• Freedom boosts creativity• Higher employees happiness
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Benefits• Less interruptions, better productivity• Saving time on commute• Freedom boosts creativity• Higher employees happiness• Possibility to travel & work
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Benefits• Less interruptions, better productivity• Saving time on commute• Freedom boosts creativity• Higher employees happiness• Possibility to travel & work• Easier to see bottlenecks in the processes
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Benefits• Less interruptions, better productivity• Saving time on commute• Freedom boosts creativity• Higher employees happiness• Possibility to travel & work• Easier to see bottlenecks in the processes• …
@slkra