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HW Team Structure & Composition
- Hardware team structures are typically multi-disciplined in very diverse areas of competence. The Agile Coach should analyze the team composition and ensure all skills necessary to fulfill the team vision are present.
- It is possible for a hardware team to be end-to-end, with the use of techniques such as deployment of people with scarce skills, support from Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and functional roles at the scaled level to ensure that the team can be self-reliant.
- If a skill set gap is present the coach can facilitate training, skill pairing, team deployment or hiring so that the team can independently produce working product.
- The first step towards cross-functionality on an agile team is to pair similar skills together on as much work as possible. An Electrical Engineer and a Mechanical Engineer would be an example of a natural pairing, as their education and working experience have many parallels.
- As time goes on, the team members will break down development barriers that typically exist between departments.
- This encourages the team members to become more T-shaped (i.e., deep in one area of competence and knowledgeable in other areas). They will understand the impact of “throwing work over the wall”.