The current global job skills shortage opens the discussion around hybrid work and having distributed teams. More common in software and tech industries, a distributed model relates to a team being made up of specialists working on projects remotely from different locations including countries or continents (Techopedia).

Within this model, the company’s software engineering team could be fully or partially ‘distributed’. This model has become necessary when specific job skills and experience are required and are in short supply locally. It is a term that Sharesource is well acquainted with as matching specialist skills is our speciality. 

A distributed model can provide companies with massive competitive advantages providing them with specialist skills that their competitors may struggle to fill. However, as with any working model, it can be challenging, especially if your remote team members are not well managed or integrated as a part of the entire team.

Let’s begin with the models’ key advantages:

• The world becomes your talent pool. This means you have a greater chance of finding the exact skills you are seeking. This is particularly important when there are skills shortages and is one of the key advantages of this model.

• Greater productivity is a key outcome when you have the best team in place for the work required. Although, achieving this is subject to having the challenges fully addressed, more on this later.

• Giving meaningful work to people in developing countries means they are happier in their work and want to achieve success for their team and the company, however, again addressing the challenges is imperative in achieving this social advantage.

• With fewer people in the office, your overheads will reduce while employing team members from other countries could result in your overall salary bill being reduced.

And its key challenges:

The challenges below are true to differing degrees whether teams work in the office, hybrid, remote, or in a far-reaching distributed model. All teams, no matter where they work require a supported environment that addresses their specific needs, situation, and environment. Without this support, the challenges are real and will negate the model’s advantages.

• Managing a remote tech engineering team from a different country or continent can initially seem overwhelming and risky which is why having a ‘support’ company such as Sharesource manage the support functions including HR, training and general admin ensures that getting the best out of the team is possible.

• Communication between team members working in different countries or continents can be problematic, especially if other languages or time zones are involved. However, there are advantages that come with cultural differences as well as different time zones. Firstly, cultural differences bring alternate ways of viewing projects and tasks. At the same time, different time zones can provide a competitive advantage by having a project completed while other members of the team (as well as the client/customers) are asleep. Of course, as with any flexible work having the right technology to enable seamless communication between the remote team and the organisation is critical.

• Concerns that the remote team does not match the culture or values of the rest of the organisation can be addressed when the remote team is formed. Matching ‘best fit’ is not simply about skills and experience as team fit is also critical. The right recruitment agency is a must when it comes to language, cultural differences and team fit.

For nearly ten years, Sharesource has worked with forward-thinking companies that have seen the value of a distributed development model for their software and engineering teams. They have relied on Sharesource to address the challenges so that the remote teams can provide a seamless solution to their software problems and opportunities.

Sharesource works closely with their Australian, UK and soon, Canadian partners, from the ‘get go’ ensuring that they have a detailed understanding of the company's values and culture in addition to the specific requirements of the position. Our work covers the first brief; the interview stages; recruitment; ongoing support for both professional and personal growth via training, mentoring, and coaching, to regular assessment and reviews. In short, we are there for the long haul providing the supported environment needed to guarantee success.

Where to Find Your Top Tech Talent?

Amidst the tech skills shortage, attracting and retaining tech talent is crucial to the business. And just as job seekers look everywhere in the world, you must look everywhere to get the talent you need. Extend your reach by broadening your talent pool. If you look past beyond geography, you’ll realise that there are so many smart tech talent anywhere in the world.