Week 2: Post 2

While I was at Berea and working on a project with 3 other members was daunting. It was a challenge to effectively communicate and split up work in a way where every member contributes the same amount of effort and in a way that we can integrate all our work to meet the project's final vision. I always felt more comfortable working alone because then I wouldn’t have to deal with splitting work, collaboration issues, or the daunting Git Merge conflicts. I always wondered how teams of 15+ people all collaborated and stayed on the same pages and release products. 

My experience in the first two weeks at WillowTree has shown me that it is challenging to keep a large team aligned with many moving parts. While I initially thought there was a magic formula that facilitated successful collaboration, I now understand that the key lies in consistent communication and regular updates. Our team leverages several Slack channels that keep everyone updated on the completion of new tasks. At first, I only thought one Slack channel was necessary for our team, but I have come to appreciate the value they bring. Additionally, we use daily stand-up meetings to keep each other informed about what's happened, what is currently happening, and what needs to happen. These meetings ensure that the whole team stays on the same page and fosters communication within teams that rely on each other. Finally, the Jira project tracking board serves as the backbone for everything we do, tracking what tasks need to be done, what is being worked on, and what tasks are completed.

While I initially thought using all these new tools was overkill, I now understand how essential they are for keeping our team on track and ensuring we make measurable progress toward our goals. Implementing these tools has provided a structure that facilitates seamless communication and collaboration among team members. This experience has taught me to embrace teamwork, seek feedback, and value and practice consistent communication.