| Outsourcing your software development can | | | | design, and development of the client's |
| save you time and money if you know what you | | | | software. |
| need. Too often US companies attempt to | | | | |
| outsource without a good understanding of | | | | The client is essentially saying, "Design the |
| what their software should do, and this is | | | | software for me, and I'll tell you if it |
| the biggest cause of outsourcing failure. It | | | | matches what I am thinking." This can work |
| is unreasonable to expect your outsourcing | | | | because the cost of outsourcing is so low |
| team to have a menu of software, | | | | that rework and multiple design iterations |
| pre-prepared, so you can just select the | | | | are affordable. |
| items you want. | | | | |
| | | | This type of arrangement only works when |
| Ever go to a restaurant with a picky eater? | | | | paying on a Time and Materials basis. There |
| They tell the waiter in excruciating detail | | | | is no way to offer fixed pricing because the |
| how they want their food prepared. And heaven | | | | end product is not defined. |
| forbid that the food arrives different from | | | | |
| what was requested! Back to the kitchen it | | | | Of course, not having a specification may not |
| goes to be "fixed" to make the picky eater | | | | stop you from asking for a fixed price bid! |
| happy. | | | | In this case, you can outsource the creation |
| | | | of a specification that defines your software |
| Sometimes US companies hire an outsourced | | | | for a fixed price. Then the resulting |
| partner as if they were going to a | | | | complete design specification is used to |
| restaurant. They select the cuisine based on | | | | create a second fixed price bid for writing |
| the flavor of the technology they require. | | | | your software. |
| Chinese .NET or Indian Java? How about some | | | | |
| Russian C++? Unfortunately there is rarely a | | | | Another factor comes into play when you pay a |
| menu for the exact items you might like to | | | | fixed price amount for a software design |
| order from an outsourced team. | | | | specification. You usually have to pay at |
| | | | least half up front. This is to protect the |
| Are you approaching outsourcing your software | | | | outsourcing company from delivering a |
| like you are walking into a restaurant? Are | | | | specification for creating the software and |
| you expecting the outsourcing team to advise | | | | then not getting paid. |
| you, like an attentive waiter, on the way | | | | |
| your software should look, be prepared and | | | | Because software design often occurs at the |
| presented to your customers? | | | | beginning of a relationship, both parties |
| | | | seek to minimize their risk. You minimize |
| Instead, bring your own recipe when you start | | | | your risk by selecting an outsourcing team |
| work with an outsourcing team. Unlike your | | | | with a proven track record and great |
| dining experiences, you cannot ask for the | | | | references. The outsourcing team reduces |
| daily special. You have to provide a specific | | | | their risk by getting partial (sometimes |
| description of what you would like to have, | | | | full) payment before starting. |
| and how it should be prepared. Without such a | | | | |
| recipe, your outsourced software development | | | | There are multiple deliverables that should |
| efforts can be starved for success. | | | | be produced during the design phase of |
| | | | creating your software, whether you do it |
| Poorly specified software is often the result | | | | yourself, or outsource the design: |
| when "subject matter experts" are involved. | | | | |
| Subject matter experts, or SMEs, know a lot | | | | - Marketing Requirements |
| about a particular subject, like IC design, | | | | |
| business process workflow, inventory | | | | - Storyboard Demo |
| management, etc., but very little about | | | | |
| designing software. SMEs can struggle to get | | | | - Functional Specification |
| their ideas encoded in the software. They | | | | |
| need to work with someone that knows the best | | | | - Multiple Release Milestone Schedule |
| way to design and develop software. | | | | |
| | | | - Detailed Task Schedule for First Release |
| Sometimes, there is a fear of getting bogged | | | | |
| down in the details. Since some software | | | | - Detailed Design Specification (optional) |
| executives are great with people, they feel | | | | |
| much more comfortable hiring a person to | | | | Unfortunately, software development has not |
| handle the details. They know how to manage a | | | | progressed to the point where ready-made |
| person here, better than they can manage an | | | | modules are available to order and combined |
| offshore team of programmers in a remote | | | | to create your software. There is not yet a |
| offshore location. | | | | menu of choices available to anyone that is |
| | | | hungry for new software. Instead, you must |
| One Accelerance client is in this situation. | | | | provide your own recipe for what you need. |
| The CEO wants to outsource the development of | | | | The good news is low cost outsourced software |
| a new software product. But there is no | | | | design and development resources are now |
| specification. In this case Accelerance is | | | | available to create your custom software to |
| acting as a virtual CTO, responsible for the | | | | meet your exact specifications. |