What is a Tribe? How is It Different from a Traditional Software Development Team?

What is a Tribe?

A tribe at Klanova is more than just a group of individuals with specific roles. It’s a self-contained, collaborative unit that includes all the critical skills necessary to take your project from idea to execution, without needing to rely on external resources. Every tribe is designed to work independently but collaboratively, bringing together the following core roles:

• Product Managers : The driving force behind your project’s direction. They understand the business needs, break them down into actionable tasks, and ensure the development stays aligned with your product’s vision.

• UI Designers : These designers craft intuitive, visually appealing interfaces that enhance user experience and engagement, transforming your product into something that truly resonates with customers.

• Tech Lead : The Tech Lead offers day-to-day decision making and technical direction for the product managers and developers.

• Developers : The technical backbone of the tribe. They write the code that turns your vision into a functional product, ensuring scalability, performance, and efficiency.

• QA Engineers : Quality assurance is key to any successful project. These engineers rigorously test the product to identify and fix bugs, ensuring everything works as intended and delivers a smooth user experience.

This balanced mix of skills ensures that a tribe is capable of managing all aspects of software development from ideation to completion—independently and efficiently.

How is a Tribe Different from a Traditional Software Development Team?

While traditional teams are often task-focused and fragmented, a tribe operates as a holistic unit. Here are some key differences:

1. Cross-functional Collaboration

In a traditional team, developers, designers, and other roles often work in silos, only interacting when necessary. In contrast, a tribe works collaboratively from start to finish. Each member has their role, but they share knowledge, solve problems together, and contribute to the bigger picture. This level of deep collaboration leads to more creative, effective solutions and faster problem-solving.

2. Self-Sufficiency

A typical development team may need to rely on external departments or additional resources to move the project forward. For example, they might need to wait for product managers or designers from another department to provide input. A tribe, on the other hand, is fully self-contained, with all the roles needed to execute a project. This independence increases speed and reduces delays.

3. Alignment with the Product Vision

In many traditional setups, different team members may focus only on their specific tasks without a clear understanding of the product’s end goals. Tribes, however, operate with a shared vision. Product managers ensure that the entire tribe is aligned with the product’s long-term objectives, allowing the team to build with clarity and purpose. This alignment fosters a sense of ownership and commitment to the project’s success.

Why Tribes Matter for Startup CTOs

For startup CTOs, building and managing a cohesive, agile team can be a significant challenge. Traditional development teams might not provide the level of collaboration and self-sufficiency needed to meet the fast-paced demands of startup life. With a tribe, however, CTOs get a fully integrated, versatile unit that operates as an extension of their own company.

At Klanova, our BYO CTO (Bring Your Own CTO) model empowers your CTO to direct and lead the tribe, ensuring your vision remains at the heart of everything we do. Unlike traditional outsourcing solutions where the project is handed off, our tribes work under the guidance of your CTO, becoming a seamless part of your organization, rather than an external resource.

Conclusion

Choosing between a traditional software development team and a Klanova tribe isn’t just about selecting roles—it’s about selecting a model of collaboration, ownership, and agility. With a tribe, you get the full spectrum of skills, working as a self-sufficient, adaptable unit that aligns with your goals and stays committed to your success. For CTOs looking to streamline development and achieve more with less, a tribe is the answer.