In the first part of this guide we were talking about the contract and the beginning of the project. Now we will concentrate on the core of the project and possible issues.
On the move
Once the parties successfully complete the first small project and everybody is satisfied with the outcome, it is time to move on to more complex tasks. It is up to your decision if you want to continue gradually and grow progressively or really to start on a larger scale with several teams working on various projects.
At this point it is necessary to create a mid-term plan regarding how would you like to develop the relationship over time. This will help you clearly define the type of communication you need, the organizational structure and the responsibilities of the parties involved.
It is necessary to emphasize that the outsourcing party needs to have some active control over the process. It at least needs to monitor the progress, check the deliverable, etc.
Once the relationship is well defined, processes are set, communication is flowing, the client may require less time for monitoring, however, it can never be fully released from responsibility. This structure is sometimes referred to as “The Hybrid Model”.
The typical set of processes and tools are used to keep all the parties informed: (bi)/weekly status reports, physical visits, issues reporting tools, daily builds, automatic testing, etc.
Physical visits are typically used not only for monitoring but also for big design meetings, kick-off project meetings as well as for keeping the relationship warm.
Issues
Almost all the issues you can imagine stem from communication problems. That is why it is critical to have communication process in place and check it regularly.
Issues are the result of miscommunication in:
- Contract is ambiguous
- Expectations are different
- Product/project definition understood differently
- Change management missing or unclear
- Bug reporting not clear and not accountable
Project Size
The scenario described here works for middle-size or larger projects. It would be overkill for small projects (several man-weeks). The freelancer sites on Web are much better suited for smaller projects. This process works very well when SMBs or larger companies cooperate together. As we concentrate on the right size projects, we are able to offer competitive price and convenient delivery conditions. Contact us to know more.
Conclusion
If you want to survive your outsourcing project, plan ahead and keep communication channels open.