App Development Team Structure – Its Importance, Roles & Responsibilities

It is never just the app development teams that makes an app successful. The fact is – there are piles of factors contributing to the success of a mobile app; Like the business idea, look and feel of the app, user journeys, efficient algorithms, architecture solutions, adequate risk management, security, and so on.

That’s where a software development team structure comes into action. Team composition is essential to fulfilling all the aspects mentioned above. Therefore, it is advised to build a application development team before venturing forth.

To many of us, software development may sound like black magic. So many peculiar words and technical terms that are even tough to pronounce. Even more, if you’re a non-tech person, you may get lost in the middle of the project, like crew members’ roles, and so on.

Do you even feel the same? Or Are you running down with tons of questions?

Like,

Why is software development team structure essential?

What are the application development team roles and responsibilities?

How to build app development?

Why can’t you just hire a single person for the whole project rather required to hire app development team?

Keep reading the article to get an answer to all the questions. Let’s begin with peeping into the members of a software development team.

Software Development Team Structure (Explaining Role of Each Team Member)

We can call a web or mobile app development team a living organism that works on various tasks by implementing collective efforts. The thing that matters most is the skills and ability of each team member of your project. Henceforth, it is essential that you know the roles and responsibilities of each component of your application development team. Step into the specialties of every phase to kick off your project with all crucial data.

Before beginning, think of your software team as a superhero crew. (This will make it more interesting)

Sales & Marketing

We can call it the head start of any app or web idea. A sales manager is the one with whom you first interact for your project. They will analyse your app idea, provide you suggestions to enhance the app idea, introduce you to the company and mobile app development team.

Besides all, you will get an introduction about the web and app developers and various technology stack they are skilled at. After discussing the whole project and key elements, the sales manager shares an estimated cost of app development. Once you approve the final proposal with pricing, the project is handed over to the project manager to give a kick start.

On the complementary side, the marketing strategist researches the current market trends based on your product and creates a plan that helps you to promote your future product. Everything is covered under marketing whether it is about creating advertising materials or pre/post product launch.

Business Analyst

Most of us think that the final execution of a project starts just with a project manager. Though the reality is quite different! The role of a Business Analyst in a mobile app development team structure is equally important as that of a project manager.

Defining the role of a Business Analyst in one sentence, “Building the right product at the right time”. As per the analysis, it is found that software development companies spend 8-15% of their time and funds on BA. The prime intention of a BA is to craft requirements & vision as per the stakeholders and customers.

What is the role of a Business Analyst?

• Assemble, prepare the document, prioritize technical requirements.
• Give estimated time and cost of a project development.
• Learn business requirements & transform them into development tasks.
• Determine, inspect & report on the latest trends.
• Check on the existing process, define the way to enhance the mobile app development process.
• Helps clients to build a strong vision for the product.
• Create documents and user manuals whenever needed.

Tools & technologies used by BA Team: Storymap, Value Proposition,
Business Model Canvas, Product Backlog, Balsamiq, Adobe XD, WPS, Microsoft Office, Google Docs.

Project Manager/Product Manager

Do you consider the Project Manager & Product Manager to be the same? However, the certitude is quite different! There lies a difference between Project Manager & Product Manager.

Both of them carry out distinct roles and responsibilities. You can make a difference by checking on what they’re managing – product vs project. A product is something wherein a project manager needs to create a continuous value of the product to its user. Whereas, a project comes with an accurate plan and deadline.

“Something not working or a bug” – Let me call the Project Manager. A PM is the one who is answerable for the implementation of the project and its delivery. The preliminary focus is to keep an eye on the deadline and maintain the quality of the project.

To put it short, the Project manager is a jack of all trades who needs to sail through every peak and valley of the project.

What is the role of a Project Manager in mobile development team structure?

• Allocating the assignments to the various tech teams, by prioritizing the tasks
• Creating a bridge between the client and developers
• Adapting changes that come along the software development team structure
• Knowledge for using diverse project management tools like Asana, TeamGantt, and Confluence
• Discover, handle and minimize the potential risks.
• Keeping realistic deadlines, maintaining quality, and keeping track of the same.
• Following software development methodologies like SCRUM model, Agile model, Waterfall model, and more.

UI/UX Designer

Before all else, you need to know that User Experience(UX) and User Interface(UI) are different yet interconnected things. To make it more clear, UX defines how a user interacts with the product, while UI is called the visual part of the product. The peak goal of a UI/UX designer is to build an intuitive, peculiar, appealing, and user-friendly interface of a web and mobile application.

Sail through the roles of UI/UX experts,

What is the role of a UX Designer in application development team?

• Primarily, develop an information architecture (the way information is presented to the users).
• Identify target audiences, and accordingly see how user and business aims get aligned to each other.
• Analyze types of designs based on the likes and dislikes of the user.
• Create the wireframe, visuals, mockups etc, of the application.
• Build prototypes for user testing.
• As the last thing, team up with developers to give life to the designs by converting them to a real-time working product.

What is the role of a UI Designer in app development teams?

• Research and work on the user requirements.
• UI designers are fully responsible for the visuals of the project.
• Creating micro-interactions, animation, logos, brand-specific fonts, and more are covered under the UI designers.
• Additionally, UI designers work on the colour schemes and overall style to make visuals engaging.
• Work with the software development teams and QA to assure that design features are implemented as decided.

Tools & technologies used by UI/UX Designer: AdobeXD, Figma, Sketch, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, InVision Studio, Framer, Principle, Axure

Android/iOS Developers

After the completion of UI/UX designs, the final fold of the development process begins. If you’re planning to develop a mobile application for different platforms, your app development team structure should contain Android and iOS developers.

Know the development team roles before building app structure and functionality. We have assembled a few points that show how the process of mobile app development differs in Android and iPhone.

First of all, we will go through the general or basic app development team roles, and then specified roles based on platforms.

What is the role of a Mobile App Developer in application development team?

• Building high-quality, reusable, and clean codes for the application.
• Transforming the mockups, wireframes, and sketches to the real-time app.
• Work with frontend and backend developers.
• Making APIs for the support functionalities
• Assuring that the mobile app meets with the App Store and Play Store guidelines.
• Build and test apps for mobile devices.

Android Developer Specifications in Android App Development Team

• Command on Kotlin and Java programming language.
• Knowledge of vital Android SDK concepts.
• Understanding of XML, Material Designs, and Databases.
• Knows how to work with Android Studio.

Hire Android App Development Team

iOS Developer Specifications in IOS App Development Team

• Proficiency of Swift and Objective C to develop native apps.
• Knows how to build apps for iPad, iWatch, and more.
• Command on Apple’s Xcode IDE and Apple Human Interface Guidelines.

Hire IOS App Development Team

Backend Developers

Chief Technology Problem Solver – the peak role that every backend developer plays in a software development team structure. All the magic happens under one hood when the backend developer comes into action with its sophisticated logic and algorithms. The backend developer works on the operational logic, cloud storage, and server working.

What is the role of a Backend Developer in Software Development Teams?

• Work with the development team for creating the functional code.
• Optimize the application for maximizing the speed.
• Develop and maintain behind the scenes functionality of the web and mobile app.
• Design & build data storage solutions.
• Working with databases, IDE, and collaboration services.
• Implement a strong mechanism for data security.
• Testing and debugging the backend.

Tools & technologies used by Backend Developer: Databases, SQL, Node.js, PHP, Algorithms, Microservices, Architecture.

SEE ALSO: How To Build An App For My Business

Quality Assurance

The world of software development is a tricky and error-prone zone, wherein the expert developers sometimes scratch their head. And that’s why the mobile app development team structure requires a Quality Assurance expert.

To make a long story short, QA spots the bug before the users interact with your application. Their role is critical in delivering a high-quality and user-based application. We can say that they are not just the tester but also involved in verifying the features implemented, preparing documentation, and actively participating in the successful launch of a project.

What is the role of Quality Assurance in mobile app team structure?

• Identifying the issues that users might face while using the app.
• To maintain the quality of the app, follow a strict guideline for testing.
• Execute document test cases and app test progress.
• Work on manual as well as automated testing.
• Accurately examine technical design documents, requirements, and quality specifications.
• Ensure that the final product meets the client’s requirements.

Tools & technologies used by QA team: Postman, QA Touch, Test Flight, Burp, Confluence

DevOps Engineers

So, your mobile app is running seamlessly, and your users are loving it. Out of nowhere, your app suddenly slows downs, and users start facing one or another bug. What will you do in such a situation? A DevOps Engineer will save your application and business in this situation. They will work as a fire brigade and solve the bugs.

We define DevOps Engineers as a commando of your app development army. They have strong coding and scripting skills which help them to maintain your application standards. Their main goal is to take your mobile app to a whole new level.

What is the role of a DevOps Engineer in Software Development Team?

• Work on the troubleshoots of your app.
• Setting up the work environment.
• Establish development server and staging.
• Deploying the application.
• Protecting apps against hackers and viruses.

Related tools and technologies a DevOps Engineers: AWS, Ansible, Azure, Kubernetes, Cloud Computing, Continuous Integration/Delivery, Docker, Terraform.

Delivery Manager

Consider your software development team structure as superheroes of avengers, and now it’s time for the final action – Avengers Assemble.

The fundamental role of a delivery manager is to ensure that the project runs with the fewest possible interruptions. Moreover, the DM coordinates with the client to explain the technical aspects of the project. In a nutshell, a delivery manager gives a product vision to the client. They should have the ability to understand and apply various methodologies in the development process.

What is the role of a Delivery Manager in app development teams?

• Acknowledge liability for planning, executing, and keeping track of the project.
• Coach, mentor, and prompt the development team roles.
• Manage time and task, by enforcing the solutions for obstacles.
• Understand the business needs of the client, and build a similar project architecture.
• On-time delivery of the project is the key thing.

Defining Various App Development Stages & Its Purpose

To the fact, app development is not just about design and coding. It includes multitudinous activities that make an app launch successful. To give a simplified version of the mobile app development process, we have divided it into 5 crucial steps. In these below-mentioned steps, you can know the app development team roles in each stage.

Stage 1: Idea Generation

A point or the moment from where the app idea comes to life. In this stage, you need to define your app goals, analyze the market trends, check on the features and functionalities of the app, and so on. In brief, project requirements and plans are created in this phase. At this stage, the Project Manager, Business Analyst, and Sales Team is involved.

Stage 2: Designing of App

The prototyping, wireframing, and designing of an application takes place in this phase. A high-fidelity prototype is essential to make your app design mindful. Designers will work on researching and building some inspirational app designs.

Stage 3: Development Phase

Each part of development is conducted here. First of all, a technical architecture is defined with a technology stack on which the app is built. Various APIs are created, to establish a connection between backend and mobile front end technology. Development milestones are defined and executed in this phase.

Stage 4: Testing & Debugging

This phase involves fixing all the crashes and bugs of the app to make it ready to launch. Here every change is made that is required to make the app more appealing and user-friendly. In short, it is the final check on the application before sending it to the app stores. A few crucial testing of the app done here are;

• User Testing
• Functional Testing
• Security Testing
• Device & Platform Testing
• Performance Testing

Stage 5: Deployment & Support

For the final launch of the native app, a developer account is required to send an app to the app stores. Both Google Play Store and Apple App Store have their own guidelines to follow for the launch of an application. In case of any issues, just get in touch with your app development team structure to solve the bug and successfully launch the app. Post launch the team will also take care of the app maintenance. This service incurs an additional cost to maintain an app.

How to Build Your Mobile App Development Team Structure?

Now you’re clear with the roles and responsibilities of mobile team structure, but the question arises – How and what size of the team is needed for the app development? To build your software development team structure, you first need to be clear about a few vital elements. Look over the factors that help you decide the size of your app development team.

The primary thing you need to work on is the size of the team required for your app development. Pitching to just some of the professionals for your project will lead you to lots of troubles and missing deadlines. To avoid any such concern, focus on the below-given factors;

• The number of platforms you want to build an app.
• Measure the complexity of your app, and list out the number of features you want to develop.
• Make sure you check on your budget before building the app development team structure.
• Decide the terms of app development
• Look at the expertise of the team members you’re planning to finalize.

When talking about the complexity of the application, we can categorize it into three phases.

Simple Apps – Comes with some standard features, minimal designs and a few ordinary buttons.

Medium Apps– Small number of complex functionality along with an increased number of screens and designs.

Complex Apps– Needs a high-tech app structure with chatbots, complex functionalities, and more.

Work on your app requirements, and accordingly decide the type of your app from these three phases. Once you’re clear with this condition, you can easily link your mobile app development team structure.

“We even provide IT staff augmentation services, wherein you can extend your in-house team with our resources. Get in Touch with us for more details!”

3 Prominent Aspects to Note For App Development Team Structure

In order to succeed and have a proficient development team structure, you should follow the three strict aspects.

Joint Cooperation:

The complete process of mobile app development is critical and involves so many steps, thus; it requires equal efforts from each team member to make it successful. Choose a software development team structure that believes in joint cooperation and targets rewarding results.

Work on Deadlines

Each participant of the app development structure should understand the prominence of deadlines in the project. Timeframes should be met in any case in order to make the app launch on time. Therefore, go for a team that is strict with the guidelines.

Qualified Management

Creating a mobile app development team structure with no proper qualification of the crew is like rearranging the deck chairs on Titanic. Hence, make a team who understands the core value of your project, and even understands the integral role they are playing in your project.

What is the Cost of a Mobile App Development Team?

The cost of the app development team varies based on the region and software development company you hire. Apart from that, some considerable factors are;

• Type of your project
• The cooperation model
• The complexity of your project scope
• Type of employment model

The below-given graph shows the hourly hiring rates of various regions for developers.

Adding more to it, here we have shared the individual rates of each team member for various regions.

Your aim is to build an app at minimal cost, and for that, we would suggest you go for the software development company. They have an app as well as a website development team structure for each type of needs. Share your requirements, and the rest will be taken care of by them.

If you’re looking for more information on the cost of app development, then check our blog.

SEE ALSO: How Much Does It Cost To Make An App

You’ve Put Together an App Development Team Structure (the final words)

So, we have covered every bit of the mobile app development team structure in this article. We hope now you’re clear with each development team’s roles and responsibilities.

Are you looking for more information, and directions for your development team structure or looking for to hire the best best iOS app development team or android app development team? Meet our professionals, and share your thoughts! Excellent Webworld always keeps up with the client’s requirements and builds something out of the box by understanding the value of their business.

FAQs on App Development Team Structure?

Paresh Sagar

About the Author

The CEO of Excellent WebWorld and a digital marketing expert. Paresh loves to experiment with new techniques and strategies. The posts written by Paresh are awesome for businesses who are seeking for marketing ideas.