Many businesses around the globe use foreign teams to increase their software development efforts. Whatever you require travel software or home automation software, outsourcing some jobs to talented developers from Eastern Europe, China, India or Latin America enhances the whole price and provides quicker results. Offshore staff management can frequently be hard but there are some methods which you can use. Today we’ll discuss some tips and tricks to get the maximum out of your outsourcing development team.
Remember that the team is different
Language, time zones, and cultural sensitivities can affect the software development process if you don’t include them into your management style. For instance, if your team speaks English as a second language, avoid using phrasal verbs and idioms that don’t translate well into the groups’ first language. Unclear phrasing can cause misunderstandings and results in team estrangement.
When you work with an offshore team, learn about their most important holidays. If you take into account the national holidays from the start, you’ll be able to arrange the work around those successfully.
Management style may also vary depending on the country your development team is located in. IT experts in Eastern Europe and Latin America are utilised to the western management style with equal respect among the group members of different stations. The IT experts from South-Eastern Asia might require more micromanagement, and the team leader will expect more respect.
Immerse the new team in the company values
Each software development plan, either in-house or outsourced, starts with a custom requirements specification. The designers, developers, and testers won’t have the capability to initiate the job without a clear understanding of what they are expected to create. Nonetheless, if you would prefer the product to be outstanding, dedicate some time to acquaint the offshore team with your organization, its mission, and its own values. Outline the goals you want to attain and the philosophy behind the project.
This stage will let you get to know the team better. And the specialists will be involved in the project’s success. They may think of unexpected insights and solutions which might improve the development process and increase the project’s revenue.
Communicate regularly with the group
Like every relationship, offshore staff management needs transparent communication. You should pick the preferred communication channels in the beginning. Explain your communication expectations, so the development team can expect to hear from you at predetermined intervals. Video and audio calls are the most suitable choice for regular group meetings. Instant messaging can help when you require a fast upgrade.
If you ignore this advice, you might face an unpleasant situation with the staff needing to reach out to you when something goes wrong. Because of the lack of open and effective communication, the project is subject to surpassing the deadline, causing the loss of money.
Face-to-face communication is still the simplest and quickest way send a message. So, make an attempt to fly out to your group, especially if you have a long-term project. The first meeting at the beginning of your cooperation will permit you to understand the team members and make them understand your goals and needs.
Don’t micromanage
Trust is the basis for any outsourcing project. When you utilize offshore IT experts, treat them like the professionals they are. There is no need to check on the team’s progress every half an hour to understand how much work is already done. This will not endear you to the group, instead, causing nervousness and slowing the process. The programmers should spend more time coding instead of talking about their progress reports.
Thus, avoid micromanagement, put the interim objectives, and a plan for your job, pick one day each week to conduct team meetings and address questions and issues. Choose one among the many project management tools to follow the group’s progress without disrupting their workflow.
Offshore development teams might be more effective and produce quicker results than in-house developers if you treat them right. Follow our advice to set up communication channels, build trust, and keep cultural differences in mind, and you will never regret your decision to outsource software development.