The most common approaches to the collaboration model we utilize are:
Each approach has its own advantages, it is important to select the right way to reach existing business goals.
Team extension
Client gets the pool of developers and QA engineers and manages them directly. All leading roles (PM, Architect, Team Lead etc.) are located on the customer’s side.
This model could be useful for mostly atomized, but complicated tasks available in large quantities within well-defined knowledge domain (hi-tech, design tools etc) requiring minimum inter-communications.
Client: business domain, technical expertise, software requirements, development standards and processes, development environment.
Contractor: development resources of required qualification level, infrastructure, communication channels.
Usual size of a team is 5-10 people.
Task outsourcing
Client gets a team with Team Lead. Client is involved into the team coordination and directly manages a Team Lead which manages the outsourced team.
This model could be useful for clients that have own project management business unit and need to attract a self-managed development team. It could be used in the large projects that could be divided into several threads with self-sustained teams working on their own agendas with moderate inter-communication requirements.
Client: business domain, software requirements, development standards and processes, development environment.
Contractor: development resources of required qualification level, technical expertise, infrastructure, communication channels.
Usual size of team is 7-15 people.
Project outsourcing
A full responsibility of the project is delegated by customer to the Project Manager. Client gets the full-functioned project team which is dedicated to the Project.
This model allows customer to concentrate on business-related issues of the project while having a fully pledged team covering all technical aspects.
Client: business-driving constraints: purpose and needs, scope, deadlines, budget.
Contractor: meeting client’s expectations within time, budget, and functionality.
Usual size of team is 5-200 people.
Application outsourcing
Client creates the wish-list for the application functionality. All of project activities are delegated to the Outsourcing project team. The Product owner role is partially outsourced.
Taken to the higher level, relationships between customer and provider are regulated by SLA in this model. SLA allows for variety of flexible services and conditions.
Client: service oriented, budget-oriented, long-time strategic cooperation.
Contractor: supplier services, consulting services, products within SLA (looking for maximum cost efficiency).
Usual size of team is 5-200 people.
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