Finding the Right Offshore Software Developer
The phrase “the world is getting smaller” is a popular one these days. Of course, it’s not literal because the physical planet is the same size it has always been. But the speed of communications particularly with the influence of the internet have opened the world up so you can literally communicate around the world at any time making us one big global community rather than dozens or of separate countries who never spoke.
This phenomenon is certainly true when it comes to software development. It is now entirely possible and not at all uncommon to pull together a project team that consists of people from all around the country and around the world in fact. You can execute an entire software development project with a team of people who never are in the same time zone and never see each other except perhaps by pictures or on webcam. This is not just a pipe dream. It’s a reality for many software development teams in this decade and in the current business world.
As a result the distinction between in house developers and outsourced developers can also blur. Modern workers are used to dong business with vendors and contractors with the same sense of professionalism that used to be only possible with in house development teams. And as we see younger people join the work force, that openness to a global marketplace and global teamwork will only become more commonplace.
The process for finding an international developer to outsource some of your software development workload is no different than finding any other outside vendor to do work for your company. Don’t confuse using an outsourcing arrangement with an international partner with hiring. You are using the services of a vendor so prepare an RFP and go the review and approval process the same way you would do with any other important business alliance. The RFP should be detailed and technical and place a high requirement of proof of competency on the vendor so that you know that anyone who gets through this process is qualified to enter into the discussions phase.
Sometimes there is talk of the difference in cultures when you utilize a software development contractor from India or some other Middle East or Far East country. While being culturally sensitive in some respects is called for, you are the customer and the responsibility for learning how to do business your way is on the consultant. So be respectful but if the overseas company that wants to capture your business is not prepared to fulfill your expectations, you don’t have to use them.
This level of expectation mixed with cultural respect is a good mix in dealing with any overseas developer. Keep in mind that if the project is going to extend over a number of months, you will also need to accommodate for different holiday time frames. There will be many days off in America, such as the fourth of July and perhaps Christmas that your overseas partners will be working. So keep them informed when that occurs. By the same token, your overseas developer may have various religious or national holidays that can surprise you if you don’t write them into your project schedule. Those anticipated times away from the workplace and not being productive should be documented in their proposal as a response to your RFP.
Put the potential developer through an expected level of scrutiny. If you are negotiating with the management, insist you have the right of review and refusal for any developer assigned to your case and that the same developers get assigned and stay on your project throughout the project. You need to be able to validate that they are able to handle the technical challenges that will come up.
Include in the RFP the requirements you will have for observance of your intellectual property which may include documents to hold your foreign partners accountable to protect your trade secrets. They should be prepared to sign any Nondisclosure or Do Not Compete agreements necessary to get your business.
If you do your due diligence well, you can identify foreign software developers who will do well at participating in your project development process even though working on the other side of the globe. And once you get the hang of working with a distributed development team, you will find the process to be efficient, effective and even at times fun.
