How to Set Clear Expectations for IT Developers?

October 27, 2023
IT

Introduction

IT developers play a vital role in the success of any business. They are responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining the software and systems that power businesses today. To ensure that IT developers are able to do their jobs effectively, it is important to set clear expectations for them.

Clear expectations help IT developers to understand what is expected of them and what they need to do in order to be successful. This can lead to better products and services, as well as happier and more productive employees.

Why are clear expectations important?

Improved productivity: When IT developers know what is expected of them, they can work more efficiently and effectively. This can lead to better products and services, as well as happier and more productive employees.
Reduced rework: Clear expectations help to avoid misunderstandings and ensure that everyone is on the same page. This can reduce the need for rework and save time and money.
Improved communication: Clear expectations help to improve communication between IT developers and managers. This can lead to a more collaborative and productive work environment.
Increased employee satisfaction: When IT developers know what is expected of them and have the resources they need to be successful, they are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs. This can lead to increased employee engagement and retention.

How to set clear expectations

There are a few key things you can do to set clear expectations for IT developers:

Define the scope of work: What needs to be done? What are the deliverables? What are the deadlines? Be as specific as possible when defining the scope of work. This will help to avoid misunderstandings and ensure that everyone is on the same page.
Set clear priorities: Not all tasks are created equal. Some tasks are more important and need to be prioritized over others. Make sure to communicate your priorities to your developers so that they know what to focus on.
Define the acceptance criteria: What does it mean for a task to be complete? What are the quality standards? Be sure to define the acceptance criteria for each task so that you and your developers are on the same page about what is expected.
Provide regular feedback: It is important to provide regular feedback to your developers so that they know how they are doing and can make adjustments as needed. Feedback should be specific, actionable, and timely.
Be realistic: When setting expectations, it is important to be realistic. Don’t set expectations that are too high or too low. Unrealistic expectations can lead to frustration and disappointment for both developers and managers.

Here is an example of how to set clear expectations for IT developers:

Project: Develop a new mobile app for a social media platform.

Scope of work:

Design and develop a native mobile app for iOS and Android devices.
The app must include features such as user profiles, feeds, messaging, and notifications.
The app must be scalable to support millions of users.

Deadlines:

Prototype: 4 weeks
Beta release: 8 weeks
Final release: 12 weeks

Priorities:

The most important priority is to develop the core features of the app, such as user profiles, feeds, and messaging.
Once the core features are complete, the team can focus on developing additional features, such as notifications and social sharing.

Acceptance criteria:

The app must be fully functional on both iOS and Android devices.
The app must be able to support 1 million users without any performance issues.
The app must meet all of the design and usability requirements that were specified in the project plan.

Regular feedback:

The team will meet weekly to discuss progress and provide feedback.
The manager will also provide additional feedback on a daily basis as needed.
Feedback will be specific, actionable, and timely.

Realistic expectations:

The manager is aware that developing a new mobile app is a complex and challenging task.
The manager has set realistic deadlines and expectations for the team.