CodeSourcery is a distributed company in every sense of the word. They also work as a cohesive team to solve some really tough problems. Being a distributed team is a strong competitive advantage for CodeSourcery in part because it is a big hiring incentive. They find talented people around the world and don’t limit themselves by geographic location.
They also cultivate a very open culture. Not just code changes, but almost all company decisions are discussed with the whole team. Engineers are encouraged to help each other and bring up problems as soon as they happen. CodeSourcery proactively creates an environment of sharing and openness.
Stephan Seefeld:
“You have to be a good communicator. Being able to communicate is what makes it obvious that you take feedback well. Because you have to show it somewhere. If you just listen but don’t speak up and don’t show that you actually understood what the other [person] was saying then we don’t know.”
CodeSourcery is an inspirational example of a different way for a company to work. They are also a useful guide when facing your own issues working remotely. Use their open communication as a model when you have communication and coordination problems to solve.