7 Tips for Managing Dependencies
7 Tips for Managing Dependencies
The best way to manage dependencies is to avoid them in the first place. When that is impossible, transparency and constant collaboration can help your teams deliver successful products.
Dependencies can come as technical aspects or coordination efforts between different teams. Effectively handling dependencies is crucial for maintaining a smooth flow of work and ensuring that teams can deliver value efficiently. It requires a strategic approach incorporating visibility, collaboration, flexibility, and empowerment.
1. Eliminate Dependencies as Early as Possible:
Easier said than done; this is the best way to deal with dependencies. Building resilient systems requires close attention to possible future dependencies and consideration of the future cost of handling them.
2. Empowering Teams:
Empowering teams to make decisions and act on dependencies within their scope can lead to more efficient resolution. This autonomy and clear guidelines on when to escalate issues ensure swiftly addressing dependencies, maintaining momentum, and reducing delays.
3. Prioritisation and Visibility:
The first step in managing dependencies effectively is ensuring they are visible to all involved team members and stakeholders. This involves identifying and documenting dependencies as early as possible. By prioritising these dependencies based on their impact and urgency, teams can focus on what to address first, avoiding delays in the critical path.
4. Cross-Team Collaboration:
Dependencies often involve multiple teams. Fostering a culture of open communication and collaboration is essential to managing these effectively. Regular sync-ups or cross-team meetings help align goals, clarify expectations, and resolve blockers. This proactive approach prevents last-minute surprises and ensures all teams work harmoniously towards the common objective.
5. Incremental Delivery:
Embracing an incremental delivery approach can significantly reduce the risks associated with dependencies if the teams work to break down the effort into smaller pieces so that they can address dependencies in a controlled manner, adapting as needed. This flexibility allows for continuous progress, even when facing unforeseen challenges or dependencies.
6. Dependency Mapping and Tracking:
Utilising tools or techniques for mapping and tracking dependencies can provide teams with a clear understanding of the landscape. Tools like dependency boards or matrices can help visualise the relationships between different tasks or teams, making identifying potential bottlenecks or conflicts easier.
7. Risk Management Strategies:
Incorporating dependency-related risks into the team's overall risk management plan is crucial. This might involve developing contingency plans for high-risk dependencies or agreeing on mitigation strategies. By planning for potential issues in advance, teams can navigate challenges more effectively, minimising the impact on delivery timelines.
Managing dependencies in a product development environment involves much more than identifying and tracking them. By integrating these principles into the workflow, teams can confidently navigate the complexities of dependencies, ensuring a smoother path to delivering value.
Embracing these practices enhances efficiency and fosters a more resilient and adaptive team environment capable of overcoming the inevitable challenges in product development.