How do you resolve conflicts in your dev team?

Conflicts are inevitable in any dev team, especially when working on complex projects that involve multiple stakeholders, requirements, and technologies. However, conflicts can also be opportunities to improve collaboration, communication, and quality. In this article, you will learn some practical tips on how to resolve conflicts in your dev team using the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) framework.

1 Identify the root cause

The first step to resolving conflicts is to identify the root cause of the disagreement or tension. Is it a technical issue, a personal issue, a process issue, or a business issue? For example, you might have a conflict over the choice of programming language, the coding style, the deadline, the scope, or the feedback. To identify the root cause, you need to listen actively, ask open-ended questions, and avoid assumptions or blame. You also need to consider the context and the goals of the project and the team.

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David Owens

Java Developer
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If you wait for a conflict to develop and then try to take time to identify the root cause you are already behind. Instead, try to exhibit the behaviors that will reduce overall tension early. Model a cool but firm approach toward estimates and insure that they are reasonable and have room for contingencies. Model the expectation that development be done at a sustainable pace. Start eliminating bad words from the lexicon. Try to keep testers, qa, etc. to never use the word fail. Dev's live in a black and white world. Something either compiles or it doesn't. Something passes the tests or doesn't. It doesn't help anyone to use language that calls attention to this. It may seem silly, but it makes a difference.

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Israel Isiaka

Software Engineer || Product Manager || CIP certified || Google Crowdsource Influencer || SDGs Advocate
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Identifying the root cause of the problem and nature of the issue is a good start and has proven to be the best step in resolving issues and this will help prevent wrong guesses.

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2 Choose the best approach

The next step is to choose the best approach to address the conflict, depending on the situation and the people involved. There are different ways to resolve conflicts, such as compromising, collaborating, accommodating, avoiding, or competing. Each approach has its pros and cons, and you need to weigh them carefully. For example, compromising might be a quick and easy solution, but it might also lead to suboptimal results or resentment. Collaborating might be a more creative and satisfying solution, but it might also take more time and effort.

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David Owens

Java Developer
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The team needs to help the team as a whole make investments in the team. If someone wants to try something new and there isn't an overwhelming reason not to, then it should be allowed cautiously. There is somethings you can't do. If you are a Java shop then you can't rewrite everything in Python and switch to Python. On the other hand, if there is a real interest in AI on the team, some investment in some experimenting with AI is definitely a good thing and should be encouraged in a limited way. Model this, investing in the team's growth to non developer resources on the team. There can be a lot of resistance to this and they must understand why it is necessary.

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3 Apply the SDLC principles

The third step is to apply the SDLC principles to guide you through the conflict resolution process. The SDLC is a framework that defines the stages and tasks of software development, such as planning, analysis, design, implementation, testing, and deployment. By following the SDLC principles, you can ensure that you are aligned with the project objectives, deliverables, and standards. For example, you can use the planning stage to clarify the roles and responsibilities of each team member, the analysis stage to gather and validate the requirements and expectations of the stakeholders, the design stage to create and review the architecture and specifications of the software, the implementation stage to code and integrate the software components, the testing stage to verify and validate the software functionality and quality, and the deployment stage to launch and maintain the software.

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David Owens

Java Developer
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Make sure that the SDLC items that require criticism say within the team. Code review should strictly take place within the team. Management should never be allowed in the room when code review, sprint retrospectives, training, backlog grooming, estimating, and coaching takes place. If candid assessments are allowed to take place at a safe time and at a safe place, many possible conflicts will never arise. Whenever, possible make the interactions between Dilbert, his friends, and the pointy haired manager be your case study on how not to interact. If you have never read Dilbert start immediately. Dilbert 101 is the best fundamental course on development team interactions.

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4 Communicate effectively

The fourth step is to communicate effectively with your team members and stakeholders throughout the conflict resolution process. Communication is key to building trust, understanding, and respect among the parties involved. You need to communicate clearly, respectfully, and constructively, using the appropriate channels, tools, and formats. For example, you can use verbal communication for brainstorming, negotiation, or feedback, written communication for documentation, reports, or contracts, and visual communication for diagrams, charts, or prototypes. You also need to communicate frequently, timely, and consistently, keeping everyone informed and updated on the progress, issues, and decisions.

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5 Learn from the experience

The final step is to learn from the experience and use it to improve your team performance and relationships. Conflicts can be valuable sources of feedback, learning, and innovation, if handled well. You need to reflect on what went well and what went wrong, what you learned and what you can improve, and how you can prevent or minimize future conflicts. You also need to appreciate and acknowledge the contributions and efforts of your team members and stakeholders, and celebrate the achievements and outcomes of the project.

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Dilip Jain

Solutions Architect at Valuedynamx
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I think experience gained over a period of time helps in avoiding the conflicts within the team by setting the correct process and expectations.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Sandeep Bhadange

Digital Transformation Leader, Artificial Intelligence promoter, Out-of-box thinker, Aspiring Independent Director, Service Delivery Leader, Inspirational Leader, People Leader, Learner for Life and an Author
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I think step 1 should be "Identifying and acknowledging a conflict". Many times conflict does not come across as an obvious fact but the symptoms are visible in the quality of work. For example: two developers do not get along due to personal grudges and are working on the same project. The integration of their work may show cracks and the root-cause of the problem diagnosed could be "more technical/functional training needed". Identifying and acknowledging a conflict will help the management to take the appropriate corrective steps.

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How do you resolve conflicts in your dev team?

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3

4

5

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1 Identify the root cause

2 Choose the best approach

3 Apply the SDLC principles

4 Communicate effectively

5 Learn from the experience

6 Here’s what else to consider

Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

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