The Squad Lead
In a Scaled Agile environment, a Squad Lead is typically responsible for leading a small team of developers, known as a “squad,” in the creation of software.
This can involve setting development goals, coordinating with other squads, and ensuring that the team’s work is aligned with the overall goals of the organization.
The Squad Lead may also be responsible for managing the team’s day-to-day activities, such as assigning tasks and monitoring progress.
Additionally, the Squad Lead may be responsible for communicating with stakeholders and other teams within the organization to ensure that the work of the squad is coordinated with the rest of the company.
Setup and responsibilities can vary from organisation to organisation.
Now, a squad is typically a small team of developers who are responsible for working on a specific aspect of a software project. This team may include a mix of different types of resources, such as software developers, testers, designers, and other specialists who are needed to create and deliver the desired software. Additionally, the squad may have access to shared resources, such as tools and platforms, that are used by all teams within the organization. The exact mix of resources in a squad will depend on the specific needs of the project and the goals of the organization.
The Squad Lead has a boss. The Chapter Lead.
A Chapter Lead is typically responsible for leading a group of squads that are working on related aspects of a software project. This can involve coordinating the work of the different squads, ensuring that their efforts are aligned with the overall goals of the project, and helping to resolve any issues that may arise. The Chapter Lead may also be responsible for communicating with other teams and stakeholders within the organization to ensure that the work of the chapter is coordinated with the rest of the company. Additionally, the Chapter Lead may provide guidance and mentorship to the Squad Leads who are leading the individual squads within the chapter.
How about performance?
A Squad Lead can measure the performance of individuals within their squad. This can be done in a number of ways, such as:
- through regular evaluations
- performance reviews
- by tracking metrics related to the individual’s work.
The exact approach to measuring performance will depend on the specific goals of the organization and the needs of the squad. Additionally, it’s important for the Squad Lead to ensure that any performance evaluations are fair and objective and that they are carried out in a way that promotes team cohesion and collaboration.
There are many different metrics that a Squad Lead can use to measure the performance of developers within their squad. Some examples of key metrics that might be used include:
- Lines of code written or committed
- Number of bugs fixed
- Percentage of tests passed
- Code review feedback
- Time to complete tasks
- Number of features delivered
- Amount of technical debt resolved
These are just a few examples of the many different metrics that a Squad Lead can use to measure the performance of developers. The exact metrics that are used will depend on the specific goals and needs of the organization and the project. It’s important for the Squad Lead to choose metrics that are meaningful, relevant, and accurately reflect the work of the developers in the squad.
When measuring the performance of developers, it’s important to focus on metrics that reflect their ability to deliver results rather than just the volume of work they produce. Some examples of metrics that might be used to evaluate a developer’s ability to deliver tasks include:
- Time to complete tasks
- Percentage of tasks completed on time
- Percentage of tasks delivered with high quality
- Number of features delivered
- Amount of technical debt resolved
- Customer satisfaction scores
- Number of bugs fixed
These metrics can provide a more balanced view of a developer’s performance by taking into account not only the volume of work they produce, but also the quality and effectiveness of that work. This can help Squad Leads to identify areas where developers may need support or guidance in order to improve their ability to deliver tasks effectively.
To measure the performance of developers using metrics such as those described above, it’s important to store relevant information about each user story. This might include details such as the estimated time to complete the task, the actual time taken to complete the task, the quality of the work delivered, and any feedback or comments from stakeholders. Additionally, it may be useful to track metrics such as the number of bugs fixed, the amount of technical debt resolved, and customer satisfaction scores, as these can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of the work being done. By storing this information, Squad Leads can use it to measure the performance of developers and identify areas for improvement.
Grow the team
As a Squad Lead, one of your key responsibilities is to help your team members develop and improve their programming skills. There are several ways you can do this, including:
- Provide regular feedback and guidance on their work. This can help developers understand what they are doing well and where they can improve.
- Encourage them to learn new technologies and programming languages. This can help them stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the field and broaden their skill set.
- Provide opportunities for them to work on challenging tasks and projects. This can help them develop their problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
- Encourage them to attend workshops, conferences, and other learning events. This can provide them with valuable knowledge and insights that they can apply to their work.
- Mentor and support them in their professional development. This can help them grow and improve as developers, and can also foster a positive and collaborative team culture.
By providing support and guidance to your team members, you can help them evolve their programming skills and become more effective and efficient in their work.
