How can you mediate conflicts arising from differing priorities between design and engineering teams?

In my experience, both teams have their expertise as well as limitations. Differences are always due to lack of communication and understanding so There must be open dialogues to arrest the issues properly and ultimately everyone is there for betterment of the organisation..

Aligning both the design and development team with respect to the scope of the project is the key. It is the product manager/owner's responsibility to ensure both the teams are on the same page. When I was working at Keka, we used to have this interesting practice called "Brainstorming session". These sessions typically include a product manager, an engineering manager, a lead developer, a lead QA, and a lead designer, all handling their respective counterparts on the team. At this stage, all the attendees only know the problem statement. Each attendee contributes to the solution from their respective perspectives. This essentially leads to all teams reaching common ground in terms of the scope of the solution to avoid future conflicts.

Yes and… “Forced Ranked Objectives” and “Iterative Extracted Contrapositive”. Heres the simplified version: List objectives from each stakeholder. Cover each one at a time as you ask “if we achieved everything but this, is that still success?” Just try it. The answer will magically appear. Reword/combine objectives as needed. Thats just scratching the surface and theres more to it but the basic science behind it is that it’s easier to see what you dont want. Just try it and if it helps, share it here! And dont forget “yes ands”, not “yes buts”. If you dont agree with an idea, build it up not down.

Key objective lies in leaving the extremes for the teams and come at common grounds with design/BD team putting up the priorities of what exactly needs to be made, and the engineering team striving to fullfill the same. Ultimately, a product which everyone needs has to be made, and there lies the responsibility of engineering teams to solve any challenges present.

É de extrema importância estabelecer uma cultura de respeito no desenvolvimento de produtos. Iniciando pelo brainstorming em que todas as ideias devem ser aceitas sem críticas para somente depois de analisadas criticamente serem adotadas ou não no projeto. Quando os prazos começam a ficar próximos, as chances de conflito aumentam e se faz ainda mais necessária a mediação dos gestores para que tudo corra bem e ninguém se sinta ofendido.

To mediate conflicts between design and engineering teams, foster open dialogue and ensure alignment on shared goals. Organize regular meetings for discussing priorities, challenges, and constraints, encouraging active listening and mutual respect. Facilitate a collaborative environment where both teams feel valued and heard, and emphasize working towards a unified vision. Implement a transparent decision-making process with input from both sides, and create joint task forces for specific issues. Establish clear communication channels and regularly revisit priorities based on feedback and progress. This approach ensures everyone is on the same page, promoting cohesion and productivity.

To get engineering and design teams talking openly, start by setting common goals they both understand. Hold regular joint meetings and create open channels for real-time chat and feedback. Clearly lay out the processes and roles so everyone knows who's doing what. Encourage respect and understanding through team-building activities and fostering a culture of empathy.

A comunicação aberta é fundamental em todas as fases do processo de desenvolvimento de produtos. Percebo que ao longo dos projetos algumas divergências de opinião e objetivos podem ocorrer entre as pessoas e as equipes e, nesse momento, um feedback rápido e assertivo faz muita diferença. Além de reuniões rápidas e frequentes para alinhamentos. O que não podemos fazer é deixar passar falhas ou atrasos sem intervir. Caso isso ocorra, o prejuízo pode ser grande para todos os envolvidos.

Encouraging open communication is crucial for resolving conflicts between design and engineering. Regular meetings where both teams can discuss their perspectives and challenges help address current issues and anticipate future conflicts. Maintaining transparent dialogue allows team members to understand the reasoning behind different priorities and collaborate on solutions that meet both design aspirations and engineering practicalities.

In my experience, conflicts often arise between design and engineering teams, especially in large companies where teams are project-based rather than integrated. These conflicts can stem from team unfamiliarity and differing visions for the product: - Product managers should ensure meetings emphasize the project's business goals and product vision. - Foster an environment where both design and engineering teams can openly discuss and optimize processes. This approach promotes mutual understanding and enhances collaboration, crucial for achieving successful project outcomes.

SOP’s is the most important process to follow, generally organization’s fail in this… if one can make and follow process’s for design and development… success will have no limits

Everyone has their own scope of work, and it's crucial to clearly detail these responsibilities in every single process. This ensures that each team member understands their specific tasks and how they contribute to the overall project, preventing confusion and overlap. By clearly defining roles and expectations, you foster accountability and streamline collaboration, making the project run more smoothly and efficiently.

Clearly defined processes are essential for navigating the complexities of product development. Setting guidelines that outline decision-making procedures, responsibilities, and conflict resolution steps provides a framework for both teams to operate effectively. When each team knows the process for raising concerns and the steps to resolve them, it reduces uncertainty and streamlines collaboration.

There are many formal processes that vary by organization or industry. Regardless of which one you fall under, the easiest communication process to layout is a quick RACI or RASCI chart. This allows your team to define at a task level who is responsible and accountable for tasks versus who might be supporting, consulted or just informed.

Clickup is a great project management tool the design & engineering teams can use to foster effective communication & avoid clash of differing priorities.

This is where a clear, PM tool is key. Most tools/software that keeps teams on track is overly complex, with more detail than is needed. In our experience, we have looked to simple tools that focus on just this —Communication. When implemented correctly, teams move away from viewing status updates and work reports as a chore but rather as a critical part of the product development process that helps them in their tasks just as much as it helps the team.

Using shared tools can bridge the gap between design and engineering. Choose project management and communication platforms that both teams are comfortable with to track progress, share updates, and keep everyone aligned. When both teams have visibility into each other's workflows and schedules, it reduces the risk of misalignment and fosters a more collaborative environment.

Cultivating a culture of compromise is crucial in product development. Encourage design and engineering teams to be flexible and open to alternative solutions. When conflicts arise, guide them to focus on the product's success rather than individual team victories. Promoting the idea that compromise often leads to innovation helps teams find a middle ground that combines design elegance with engineering integrity.

Continuous learning is the key for any department and so as to design and development… need to know what’s happening around and where the future trend is moving and uplift each other with knowledge

Both design & engineering teams can learn cross-train and learn basic principles to gain insights and have a better understanding of their designated field. Apart of cross-training, other crucial skills like active listening, product & user problem understanding & communication skills will foster a cohesive and a amicable working environment.

Emphasize the importance of continuous learning within your teams. Encourage them to stay informed about the latest trends in design and engineering to better understand each other's challenges and capabilities. Offer cross-training opportunities where designers can learn engineering basics and engineers can gain insights into design thinking. This mutual understanding can prevent conflicts and lead to more cohesive product development efforts.

Learning about your co-workers' skills, daily tasks and deliverables is (IMHO) the best way to mediate conflicts arising from differing priorities between design and engineering teams. Too often, we become so busy and consumed with our own tasks that we forget to show compassion and understanding for others' stressors. When we take the time to learn more about each other, each role that surrounds ours and the bigger picture, it can open up so many doors to resolving issues. I've been in situations where roles are blurry, responsibilities are poorly defined and team members get too busy to understand what is going on around them. Those that choose to change these dynamics will win in any environment and much more easily resolve conflicts.

There are a few ways of mediating these conflicts: 1. Facilitate Open Communication Regular Meetings: Stand-ups Clear Channels 2. Understand Both Perspectives Empathy Exercises Shared Language 3. Set Common Goals Unified Vision Joint Objectives 4. Create a Balanced Roadmap Collaborative Planning: Ensure the roadmap balances design aspirations & engineering feasibility. Prioritize Features: Frameworks like MoSCoW/Kano/Rice 5. Implement a Feedback Loop Iterative Process: Agile methodologies Review Sessions 6. Leverage a Mediator Product Manager: Liaison between the teams, ensuring that both teams' needs are balanced. Neutral Facilitator 7. Document Agreements and Decisions Decision Logs Design Documentation

Seria importante mencionar as principais ferramentas para gestão de projetos de desenvolvimento de produtos. Muitas equipes ainda usam planilhas simples ou ferramentas pouco intuitivas. Na minha experiência, o uso de ferramentas digitais e facilmente compartilhadas auxiliam muito na finalização e sucesso do projeto.

Diferencias, siempre serán visibles debido que somos mundos en cabezas independientes. Sumaría a los ejemplos: 1. No tomarse nada personal. 2. Un mediador que permita ver los pro y contra. 3. El bien del equipo que sea preponderante. 4. No tomar decisiones en Caliente. 5. Posterior al caso a la situación. Revisar aprendizajes entre las partes.