What is collaboration?
Collaboration in the context of software development is when two or more members of a team or organization work together to complete a task or achieve a goal. Collaboration is the foundation for delivering a valuable product. By sharing ideas, knowledge, and thoughts, we can establish a better understanding of what we are doing, what we're delivering, and what value our solution provides.
Do you have any examples?
You could work asynchronously by working alone on a topic for some time and then handing it over to other team members for review. You could also "pair" instead and work together on the same thing at the same time so you have instantly included the perspective and feedback of another person. You can also "ensemble" with a bigger group or invest the whole team to shorten the feedback loops down to a minimum.
What's the value of collaboration?
Collaboration can help establish a shared understanding of your work, which challenges assumptions and prevents biases from generating misinformation. Great collaboration reduces the need for feedback loops and waiting times by ensuring everyone stays on the same page. When you combine your unique skill sets and expertise to explore ideas or solve a problem, you will generate more ideas faster together.
What are the pitfalls?
Great collaboration is based on treating each other well. Start with listening to each other before making assumptions or jumping to conclusions. Developing empathy is crucial to finding a common base. Great collaboration requires great communication skills. Find the common language to get everyone on a shared page. Encourage a safe environment where people can bring their full selves, speak openly, provide direct feedback, and try things out to improve.
