Advantages and deployment of a multi-site team

If you want to extend the reach of your business and increase your efficiency while maintaining quality and consistency, you need to deploy a multi-site team. Indeed, any business that develops rapidly and shows strong growth encounters difficulties in managing everything from a single site. The best solution is then to implement a multi-site approach. However, this requires coaching remote teams and using appropriate technological tools.

To support you in your approach, we invite you to learn more about multi-site teams. You will thus be able to assess the relevance of such a solution to meet the specific problems of your company.

What is a multi-site team?

A multi-site team designates a team whose members are spread over several sites. Employees can then be teleworking from home as well as working in a regional office or a branch abroad.

The structure and goals of multi-site teams depend on the particular situation of the company. However, the team management of such a group requires an adapted work organization and management style. Especially since the members of a multi-site team can come from different regions, cities or even countries. It is therefore essential to maintain the coherence of the teams and to federate energies around common projects.

So, Remote collaborative work tools and smooth communication are essential elements of such an approach. It is therefore possible to effectively manage such a team if, as long as an action plan is in place, as long as each employee knows what to do and management has taken the time to clearly define the objectives.

What are the pros and cons of such an approach

Multi-site project management has advantages and disadvantages. To achieve ambitious goals, it is therefore necessary to understand them well in order to take full advantage of this approach.

Benefits

A multi-site team has significant advantages in particular in promoting collective intelligence and making talents work together:

• Access to top talent: Managing multi-site teams is ideal for finding talent where they are, even on the other side of the world.
• More flexibility: By working across multiple geographic areas, teams gain in agility and adapt more easily to market expectations.
• Better time coverage: If you opt for multi-sites, you will be able to offer customer service that is accessible 24/7.
• Diversity and innovation: Innovation is encouraged by the varied skills of multi-site teams and this contributes to the achievement of objectives.
• Risk distribution: By distributing employees, you also distribute geopolitical, economic or natural risks that could slow down your activities.

Disadvantages

Although deploying a multi-site strategy has many benefits, it is essential to consider the disadvantages of leading a team of this type.

• Communication difficulties: Communication problems can arise when leading a team due to linguistic or cultural barriers.
• Coordination issues: Coordinating teams, tasks, and projects across multiple time zones can be tricky.
• Isolation of employees: The lack of proximity to teams can cause some members to feel isolated and commitment can be affected.
• Complex management: Each site may have its problems and priorities. Supervising teams is then difficult, because supervision lacks visibility.
• Technological costs: To promote communication and information exchange, it is necessary to invest in appropriate technological infrastructure, which is costly.

How to effectively deploy a multi-site team?

Managing a multi-site team is complex as we have just seen. However, any company that succeeds in meeting this challenge can benefit from valuable assets. So let's study the 8 steps to successfully deploy such a strategy.

1. Set clear goals

To get started, take the time to set goals for each of the sites involved and for the entire multi-site team. This point is essential to motivate teams and strengthen cohesion. Therefore, make sure that each member has fully understood their role and responsibilities.

2. Selecting the right people

Not every employee can become a member of a multi-site team. The main skill of teams of this type is to know how to be autonomous and communicate effectively. Candidates must be agile and particularly open to change.

3. Deploy collaboration tools

One of the pillars of such teams is communication. It is therefore essential to equip yourself with the appropriate technological tools. Video conferencing platforms, email software, or project management systems need to be deployed.

4. Encourage fluid communication

To ensure that all members communicate on a regular basis, you can use a collaborative platform. This type of tool is ideal because it includes all the features you need and promotes the involvement of team members.

5. Managing differences

The geographical distribution of members can cause misunderstandings, misunderstandings or even tensions. These are the result of cultural or linguistic differences. Make members aware of these issues or set up intercultural communication training to meet this challenge.

6. Supporting management

Pressure on managers of multi-site teams. It is therefore desirable tobe understanding, to support them and to accompany them through specific training. These may concern interculturality, conflict management, or remote work management.

7. Establishing processes

To manage your action effectively, it is essential to establish clear and transparent processes for everyone. You can better manage projects and potential conflicts.

8. Adjust constantly

Of course, these steps are only the first step towards the success of your multi-site team. We recommend that you implement performance monitoring via adapted performance indicators. If you detect tensions or problems, it is necessary to readjust and reassess your strategy and processes.

In summary, multi-site teams promote growth, innovation and responsiveness. However, it is also necessary to meet significant challenges such as employee involvement or conflict management. To overcome these difficulties, it is strongly recommended to invest in technological infrastructure and training adapted to these problems.