Ever notice how developers and content teams interact like cats and dogs trying to share the same keyboard? One wants to push code, the other wants to perfect copy, and somehow they both end up staring at each other across a conference room table wondering where it all went wrong.
But here's the thing - this isn't actually about personalities or work styles. It's about systems that are fundamentally broken. And if you're a technical leader watching this play out in your organization, you're probably wondering if there's a better way. (Don't worry...there is)
The Real Problem Isn't People – It's Process
Here's a sobering statistic: teams waste about three hours week just dealing with collaboration headaches. That's roughly 156 hours per year, per employee, spent essentially watching their computer think about syncing things.
This tension exists because developers live in a world of Git commits, pull requests, and version control. Content teams, on the other hand, live in a parallel universe of Google docs, content management systems, and approval workflows. And we're trying to build systems that try to prioritize both?
Think of it this way: if we built a bridge between New York and London, which lane would be the driver's side? And why would we build a bridge in the first place when airplanes exist?
The Cost of Misalignment
When systems don't talk to each other, people have to fill the gaps. Here's how that typically manifests in the majority of teams right now:
- Sprint delays because content needs change after development has started
- Technical debt from quick fixes to accommodate last-minute copy changes
- Duplicate content scattered across multiple systems
- Higher error rates from manual copy-paste operations
- Endless meetings that could have just been automated
About 70% of teams say poor collaboration kills their productivity. But here's the kicker: 59% are stuck using tools that actively fight against how they actually work. Process and tooling is actively hampering your team's ability to deliver quality output.
Breaking Down The Tension Points
If teams are fighting, you might think everything is broken. Typically, however, you can trace the tension back to two specific problems:
The "Done" Problem
For developers, "done" means the code works, tests pass, and it's ready to ship. For content teams, "done" means the copy is approved, legal signed off, and marketing has given their blessing. These definitions rarely align in timing or process, creating a constant tug-of-war.
The "Tooling" Mismatch
Remember that statistic about collaboration tools? Here's another gut punch: 64% of employees say their collaboration tools don't integrate with their favored processes. This means both teams are forced to work in systems that actively fight against how they naturally work.
Building Better Systems
If all of this seems recognizable, I have some good news: it's fixable! But it requires rethinking how these teams interact at a systemic level.
1. Implement Content-as-Code Practices
Start managing your content the same way you manage code:
- Use markdown files in version control (added bonus of cutting down on fragmented Google Docs)
- Add content validation in CI/CD pipelines
- Create shared repos where both teams can collaborate without breaking things
2. Automate Everything That Sucks
- Set-up content syncing between your CMS and dev environments
- Use feature flags to manage content releases separately from code
- Add automated content validation (because no one enjoys manually checking for broken links)
3. Bridge the Knowledge Gap
Both teams need to understand enough about each other's world to not cause chaos. We recommend:
- Train content teams on basic Git operations
- Teach developers about content strategy and best practices
- Create documentation that serves both the technical and non-technical needs
The idea here is to start small. Pick a project where both teams can get a quick collaboration win. The goal is creating systems that work with your teams' natural workflows, not against them.
The Path Forward
The tension between developers and content teams isn't inevitable. It's just what happens when your systems are held together by duct tape and hope. Focus on fixing the underlying issues rather than trying to change how people work.
Remember: The goal isn't making content people think like developers or vice versa. It's building bridges between their worlds so everyone can do their best work without wanting to throw their laptop out of the nearest window.
Start by looking at your current workflows. Where are things breaking down? What manual processes could be automated? Which tools are actively making life harder? The answers will show you exactly where to start fixing things.