How big should your team be? It depends on what your goal is. In my classes, I have been showing the relationship between project size, cost and calendar time forever, based on research I had read, but could no longer find. Well, I think I have found the source, a 2005 paper from Team Size can be the Key to a Successful Software Project.
How big should your team be? Well it depends on what your most important goal is:
If you are trying to keep costs down, a team size of 3 people or less is optimal.If you are trying to get a result as quickly as possible, a team size of 5 to 7 people is optimal.If you are trying to hit a budget or deadline as accurately as possible, again a team size of 5 to 7 people is optimal.If you are trying to burn a large budget, team sizes of 9 and up are best. These effects appear to be exponential. Is item 4 really a goal? Nevermind. Silly question.
I think this data explains the Guidewire approach of keeping teams between 3 and 6 people. In effect, this has th…
How big should your team be? Well it depends on what your most important goal is:
If you are trying to keep costs down, a team size of 3 people or less is optimal.If you are trying to get a result as quickly as possible, a team size of 5 to 7 people is optimal.If you are trying to hit a budget or deadline as accurately as possible, again a team size of 5 to 7 people is optimal.If you are trying to burn a large budget, team sizes of 9 and up are best. These effects appear to be exponential. Is item 4 really a goal? Nevermind. Silly question.
I think this data explains the Guidewire approach of keeping teams between 3 and 6 people. In effect, this has th…