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Article #131: A Recipe For Outsourcing Your Software Development

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






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