How can you manage bugs that require input from multiple teams?

Bugs are inevitable in software development, but they can be especially challenging when they involve multiple teams. How can you manage bugs that require input from multiple teams effectively and efficiently? In this article, you will learn some tips and best practices to handle cross-team bugs, such as:

1 Define clear ownership

The first step to manage cross-team bugs is to define who owns the bug and who is responsible for fixing it. This can be done by using a bug tracking system that assigns a bug owner and a bug assignee. The bug owner is the person who reported the bug or who is accountable for the feature or component that the bug affects. The bug assignee is the person who is working on the bug or who has the expertise to resolve it. The bug owner and the bug assignee may belong to different teams, depending on the nature and scope of the bug.

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Mostafa Taheri

Technical Team Lead @ SnappFood with 10+ years experience in C#, Python, ASP.NET Core, Django, Microservices architecture, SaaS, Object-Oriented Programming and Agile Software Development
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To manage bugs requiring input from multiple teams, assign ownership to a designated team or individual responsible for coordinating resolution efforts. Establish clear communication channels and timelines for collaboration between teams. Implement a centralized bug tracking system to monitor progress and ensure accountability. Regularly update stakeholders on the status and escalate issues as needed. Encourage cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing to expedite resolution. Evaluate lessons learned after bug resolution to improve processes and prevent similar issues in the future.

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2 Communicate effectively

The second step to manage cross-team bugs is to communicate effectively with all the stakeholders involved in the bug lifecycle. This includes the bug owner, the bug assignee, the product owner, the quality assurance team, and any other team that may be affected by the bug or its resolution. Communication can be done through various channels, such as email, chat, video call, or status update. The key is to provide clear, concise, and timely information about the bug, such as its severity, priority, impact, root cause, solution, and progress.

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3 Use a common workflow

The third step to manage cross-team bugs is to use a common workflow that defines the stages and transitions of the bug lifecycle. A common workflow can help standardize the bug management process and ensure consistency and transparency across teams. A common workflow can be implemented by using a bug tracking system that supports custom workflows and statuses. For example, a typical bug workflow may include the following statuses: new, open, in progress, resolved, verified, closed, and reopened.

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4 Collaborate on code

The fourth step to manage cross-team bugs is to collaborate on code that is related to the bug or its resolution. Collaboration on code can help avoid duplication, conflicts, and errors in the code base and ensure quality and compatibility across teams. Collaboration on code can be done by using a version control system that supports branching, merging, and code review. For example, a common practice is to create a bug branch for each bug, work on the bug branch, submit a pull request for code review, and merge the bug branch into the main branch after approval.

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Igor Topolski

Staff Software Engineer @ Sainsbury's Tech | Delivering High-Performance Solutions
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What’s worth adding is that it’s easier to work on bags spanning multiple teams if they share their observability tooling. It makes it much easier for the teams if a common platform can be used to view logs or metrics. Furthermore, it’s also helpful to create shared tooling and libraries that allow teams to publish the metrics in unified way.

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5 Review and learn

The fifth step to manage cross-team bugs is to review and learn from the bug and its resolution. Review and learning can help identify and address the root causes of the bug, prevent similar bugs from occurring in the future, and improve the software development process and practices across teams. Review and learning can be done by using various methods, such as post-mortem analysis, retrospective meetings, feedback sessions, or lessons learned documents.

Bugs that require input from multiple teams can be complex and time-consuming, but they can also be opportunities for learning and improvement. By following these tips and best practices, you can manage cross-team bugs effectively and efficiently and deliver high-quality software products.

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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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Narayanan Rajagopalan

Fractional Executive & Consultant through Yashmia Consulting and Technologies | Product and Technology Leadership, Cloud Services, IIOT, Fintech, LLM, Blockchain
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Schedule regular cross-functional meetings to discuss bug resolution strategies, prioritize fixes, and ensure alignment across teams. Use project management tools to assign tasks and monitor progress collaboratively.

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How can you manage bugs that require input from multiple teams?

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1 Define clear ownership

2 Communicate effectively

3 Use a common workflow

4 Collaborate on code

5 Review and learn

6 Here’s what else to consider

Software Development

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How can you manage bugs that require input from multiple teams?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Define clear ownership

2 Communicate effectively

3 Use a common workflow

4 Collaborate on code

5 Review and learn

6 Here’s what else to consider

Software Development

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