Distributed Agile Teams – Challenges

Items on the left are valued more according to the Agile Manifest. Let’s analyze each of them to find out why remote teams are facing tough challenges.

Individuals and interactions over processes and tools

  • Lack of face to face communication
  • Offices in a different timezone
  • Cultural differences
  • High-overhead processes
  • Synchronous communication

Working software over comprehensive documentation

  • Challenging hand-over between team members
  • Information might get lost

Customer collaboration over contract negotiation

  • Distance to customers or internal business units
  • Team members can feel detached from the core business

Responding to change over following a plan

  • Meaning can be lost during discussions
  • Information might get lost or disappear