Speeding Up the Enterprise: Virtual Squads at InVision

In this episode of Test in Production, Yoz and Ben discuss the concept of virtual squads at InVision. Virtual squads are temporary teams formed to tackle specific projects or initiatives that require cross-functional collaboration. They can be useful for addressing urgent needs or exploring new opportunities without disrupting existing teams' dynamics and productivity. Ben shares his experience leading a virtual squad focused on improving the developer experience within InVision's platform. The team consisted of members from different squads, each bringing unique skills and perspectives to the project. They worked together in an agile manner, with regular stand-ups and retrospectives, to quickly iterate on ideas and deliver value to customers. Some key takeaways from this discussion include: 1. Virtual squads are best suited for short-term projects or initiatives that require cross-functional collaboration but do not warrant the permanent restructuring of existing teams. 2. Effective virtual squads rely on trust, clear communication, and a shared understanding of the project's goals and outcomes. 3. It is essential to balance the needs of individual team members with those of the broader organization when forming virtual squads. This may involve considering factors such as personal career growth opportunities and ensuring that sacrifices made by existing teams are recognized and acknowledged. 4. Virtual squads should be temporary in nature, dissolving once their specific objectives have been achieved or if they prove unsuccessful. 5. Cross-pollination of best practices and lessons learned between virtual squads and other teams within the organization can help drive continuous improvement across the entire business. Overall, virtual squads offer a flexible approach to addressing complex challenges that require diverse skill sets and perspectives while minimizing disruption to existing team dynamics and productivity levels.