It’s no surprise that mobile devices have grown in popularity in recent years. The market is being driven by the frequent release of smartphones and the daily release of apps to app stores.

Not to add that it was recently reported that people spend 5 to 6 hours every day on their phones.

What does all of this mean for business leaders? To begin, you can no longer dismiss the importance of mobile app development. And besides, if users are spending a significant amount of time on their smartphones and you are not present, you are missing out.

However, there is one thing you must determine before developing your own answer. You must first identify a successful mobile app development team and decide on the type of collaboration you wish to pursue.

As an experienced organizational leader, you probably already understand the value of aligning yourself with individuals who excel at what they do.

However, you may be unaware of which positions must be completed for a successful smartphone app project and the advantages and disadvantages of in-house development vs outsourcing. So that’s what we’ll be discussing today.

Structure of an Effective Mobile App Development Team

mobile app development team structure

An agile organization chart is likely to be used while developing an app for employees or customers. After all, it is related to the most effective project management methodology in recent years.

Before we get into the essential tasks your app development team must play, it’s important to note that the number of employees assigned to each function will vary depending on the size of your project, timescale, budget, and mobile development strategy you choose. Let’s start.

Product Manager

First and foremost, you will require a product manager. This is frequently an in-house position because it acts as a liaison between the mobile application development team and other employees of your firm.

Essentially, this individual manages the app development process from beginning to end and ensures that the solution is constantly valuable to end users.

In particular, the Product manager will boost the efficiency of your application by maintaining and streamlining the product backlog so that the development team’s goals are constantly apparent.

Key summary for Product manager

  • Product vision: Defines the product vision and strategy.
  • Product requirements: Gathers and defines product requirements.
  • Product roadmap: Creates a product roadmap that outlines the product’s features and functionality.
  • Product development: Works with the development team to develop the product.
  • Product launch: Launches the product and manages its post-launch success.
  • Product marketing: Develops and executes marketing plans for the product.
  • Product analytics: Collects and analyzes product data to improve the product.

Project Manager

A Project manager manages the overall mobile app project and ensures that it is finished on schedule, within budget, and of high quality.

A project manager is someone who constantly supervises project progress, ensuring that everything remains on track, the team is encouraged, and the client is satisfied.

As the individual who fills the gap between the business and IT sectors, this is the individual to whom you or your product owner will most often interact.

Here are key areas where a product manager will support your mobile app development team.

  • Planning: Develops a project plan that outlines the project goals, scope, schedule, budget, and resources.
  • Communication: Communicates with the client, team members, and other stakeholders throughout the project.
  • Risk management: Identifies and mitigates risks to the project.
  • Change management: Manages changes to the project plan.
  • Conflict resolution: Resolves conflicts that arise during the project.
  • Team building: Builds a strong and cohesive team.
  • Project closure: Closes the project and ensures that all deliverables are met.

Business Analyst

A Business analyst, as the name implies, does a business analysis at the start of a project. They will examine the business needs and assist in setting the appropriate goals so that the development method is appropriate for your specific instance.

A BA will perform a discovery to understand your idea, write out the practical and non-requirements, estimate the project’s cost, and assist with developing an understandable interface.

Overall, BAs are important parts of the mobile application development team.

They always keep the business benefits in mind, assess procedures on a regular basis, and assist clients in achieving the goals that were stated at the outset.

Designer of UI/UX

A UI/UX Designer is essential to the mobile application lifecycle. This person will make your final product intuitive, user-friendly, and appealing.

They will ensure that everything inside the application is optimized for the best customer experience and, as a result, better engagement.

Designers are essential members of any team producing a mobile insurance app, a health solution, or a tool for any other sector.

They are the vital individuals who consider your product’s usability and always attempt to offer an app layout with a pleasing look and feel.

Role of UI/UX designer

  • User experience (UX) design: Creates a user-friendly and intuitive user experience.
  • User interface (UI) design: Creates a visually appealing and engaging user interface.
  • Wireframing: Creates wireframes to help visualize the app’s layout.
  • Prototyping: Creates prototypes to test the app’s functionality.
  • Usability testing: Conducts usability testing to ensure that the app is easy to use.
  • User research: Conducts user research to understand user needs and preferences.

Developers of Mobile Apps

Following that are mobile app developers. Whether you design an iOS app, an Android app, or a cross-platform solution, you’ll almost certainly require developers with relevant abilities and expertise for each project.

Developers are the folks who turn all of the UI/UX designs into functioning applications. As a result, they should have prior experience working with your preferred os and its respective languages or with cross-platform tools.

If the project is very complicated, you may need to engage the assistance of Backend Developers. This position focuses on server-side work.

They ensure that the things behind the scenes, such as application logic and architecture, are of the highest quality so that your solution performs optimally.

Key areas where iOS developer will work

  • Expertise in the iOS SDK and development tools.
  • Ability to develop apps for the Apple iOS platform.
  • Experience with Swift, Objective-C, and other iOS development languages.
  • Knowledge of iOS design patterns and best practices.
  • Ability to debug and troubleshoot iOS apps.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Android developer Roles in Team

  • Expertise in the Android SDK and development tools.
  • Ability to develop apps for the Google Android platform.
  • Experience with Java, Kotlin, and other Android development languages.
  • Knowledge of Android design patterns and best practices.
  • Ability to debug and troubleshoot Android apps.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Backend developer roles in app building team

  • Expertise in backend development languages and technologies.
  • Ability to develop and maintain the app’s backend.
  • Experience with databases, APIs, and other backend infrastructure.
  • Knowledge of backend design patterns and best practices.
  • Ability to debug and troubleshoot backend systems.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
hire developers

QA Engineer

Finally, a Quality Assurance Engineer, QA Specialist, or just a Tester is an essential element of the mobile app team. As the name implies, this is a professional who is accountable for the quality of your solution.

As a result, a QA Engineer ensures that your application is bug-free, adapts to different types of browsers, and generally meets all requirements.

Immediate perfection is nearly always hard to achieve, but a QA Engineer will collaborate with the whole app development team to ensure that your product is as faultless as possible. In a nutshell, they will do so by testing the solution’s efficiency, reliability, accessibility, and overall quality.

QA engineer will tack care follow parts

  • Experience with software testing methodologies and tools.
  • Ability to develop and execute test plans.
  • Knowledge of mobile app testing best practices.
  • Ability to identify and report bugs.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Other roles in the mobile app development team

Technical writer

  • Writes user manuals, tutorials, and other documentation.
  • Helps users to understand how to use the app.

Marketing Manager

  • Develops and executes marketing plans.
  • Promotes the app to potential users.

Customer support representative

  • Answers user questions and resolves issues.
  • Helps users to get the most out of the app.

Here is a quick overview of mobile app development team structure

PositionResponsibilities
Project ManagerOversees the entire project, manages resources, communicates with stakeholders, and ensures the project is completed on time and within budget.
UX/UI DesignerCreates the user interface and user experience design for the app. Works with developers to ensure designs are implemented correctly.
Front-end DeveloperDevelops the user-facing part of the app using programming languages such as Java, Swift, or Kotlin.
Back-end DeveloperDevelops the server-side components of the app, such as APIs and databases.
QA TesterTests the app for bugs and errors, ensuring it meets quality standards.
DevOps EngineerManages the deployment and operation of the app, including server maintenance and updates.
Technical WriterCreates technical documentation and user manuals for the app.
Marketing SpecialistDevelops and executes marketing strategies for the app, including app store optimization, social media campaigns, and advertising.
Business AnalystAnalyzes market trends, user behavior, and business requirements to ensure the app meets business goals and is competitive in the marketplace.

Identifying an Expert Mobile App Development Team

Now that you know what roles form an efficient application development team, it’s time to discuss about actually finding one.

After everything has been said and done, you have two options. Either form your own in-house agency to work on the app project.

Alternatively, consider outsourcing and depending on outside specialists to provide a good solution.

In-House

You’re probably most familiar with the in-house approach. You contact HR and start looking for someone who can lead application development and construct an efficient team.

As you may be aware, this can be time-consuming and costly. After all, you don’t need just one person. Furthermore, the complexities of paperwork, employee compensation, and the like can end up outweighing the advantages of having someone continue working internally.

Outsourcing

It entails collaborating with an external web app development vendor to offer a portion of your solution, the complete thing, or simply add a workforce or support team with new roles to your in-house resources.

An expert vendor can help you determine the total of mobile app development, get started quickly, and guide you through the entire process.

As a result, this strategy is typically faster and less expensive than assembling an in-house team.

Are you ready for a mobile app development team?

Putting together a mobile app development team that will provide your organization with an amazing web app solution can be challenging. However, it is achievable if you know what to seek and what form of engagement strategy you desire.

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About Ritika

Ritika is an avid content curator who loves chatting about all things Industry and Technology. She writes about Web App Development, Designing, Marketing, even Machine Learning, and AI.