Team structure

DSDM^® has an interesting, though relatively complicated team structure:

• Project Level: This contains a number of roles responsible for the overall project outputs/outcomes and coordinating the teams.
  • Business Sponsor: This is the most senior role in the project, responsible for its justification, budget, etc.
  • Business Visionary: They interpret the business needs at the project level.
  • Project Manager: They are responsible for the day-to-day management of the project.
  • Technical Coordinator: They are responsible for coordinating the technical aspects of the project across teams.
• Solution Development Team Level: There can be one or more teams, each with a number of roles required for coordinating themselves with the project level, making decisions within their threshold, and producing the output.
  • Team Leader: They are responsible for the management aspects inside the team, and they are in touch with the Project Manager.
  • Business Ambassador: They bring their business and user expertise to the team, and they are in touch with the Business Visionary.
  • Solution Developer: They are the people who build the product.
  • Solution Tester: They help ensure the quality of the product.
• Support Level: This contains a number of roles that support multiple teams.
  • Technical Advisor: They help teams in certain technical aspects; e.g., security.
  • Business Advisor: They help teams by providing them with business and user information; e.g., legal and regulatory aspects
  • DSDM Coach: They help teams understand how to use the DSDM methodology.
  • Workshop Facilitator: They help everyone by facilitating their workshops.

In addition to the roles above, there’s also a Business Analyst role that belongs at both the project level and the team level. They have both business and technical knowledge and bridge the gaps between them.