Distributed large teams can face several challenges when producing Agile architecture. One of the main challenges is communication and coordination. Team members may be located in different locations and time zones and have different cultural backgrounds.
These factors make having regular meetings, sharing information, and collaborating on design decisions difficult. Additionally, distributed teams may have difficulty building trust and developing a sense of shared ownership of the project.
Another challenge is the potential for silos within the team, where different sub-teams or individuals are working on various aspects of the project without proper coordination or integration. Siloing can lead to inconsistencies and gaps in the design, making achieving a cohesive, unified design challenging.
In contrast, cross-functional small teams are more conducive to creating better software architecture. Small groups are more likely to have good communication and collaboration, as team members are more likely to know each other and work closely together. Additionally, cross-functional teams are composed of individuals with different skills and perspectives, which can lead to more creative and innovative solutions.
Small cross-functional teams are also more agile and able to respond quickly to changes in requirements or design decisions, allowing them to adapt to new technologies and changing market conditions more effectively.