| Some companies are jumping into software | | | | answer. If you do not have these details prepared, you |
| outsourcing before they are ready. They hire a team, | | | | are probably not ready to outsource. |
| sometimes the wrong one, and then expect them to | | | | And if you are not ready to outsource, you face the |
| start producing software right away. In their rush, they | | | | risks of extra costs, huge delays and the complete |
| skip the planning, goal setting and careful evaluation of | | | | failure of your outsourced software development. |
| how outsourcing fits into their organization. | | | | Why do people start outsourcing without planning? |
| What does it mean to be ready for outsourcing? Is | | | | There are different reasons. Sometimes it is ignorance. |
| there a way to measure your readiness? Now you | | | | Other times it is an intense desire to get the software |
| can answer a set of twenty questions on-line to get | | | | developed as quickly as possible. |
| an idea of where you stand. The results will tell you if | | | | Before you jump into outsourcing make sure you are |
| you are ready to go, if should proceed cautiously, or | | | | ready. Take this free test and think about your |
| that you should seek immediate help. Here is the link to | | | | answers. Be honest. Then seek out advice and other |
| this free, no obligation, outsourcing readiness test: | | | | resources to help in areas where you need |
| One company I met with recently is already doing | | | | improvement. |
| outsourced software development from their | | | | The on-line readiness test divides the questions into |
| engineering group. "How is it going?" I asked. "It | | | | four areas - Your Previous Outsourcing Experience, |
| depends on who you talk to," I was told. The | | | | Technology, Business, and Management Approach. |
| executives of the company thought it was going great. | | | | Even if you are not completely ready for outsourcing, |
| The company was paying less for engineering talent. | | | | you can get help to compensate for areas of |
| Board members seemed satisfied. | | | | weakness. That is the other benefit of the readiness |
| But after further conversation, I learned the engineering | | | | test - just by answering the questions honestly, you |
| department had never really bought into the concept | | | | can focus on areas where you may need help to |
| of outsourcing. They resisted working with the | | | | minimize your outsourcing risks. |
| outsourced team. Their results were actually less than | | | | The help you need in these areas can come from |
| spectacular. Clearly this was a company not | | | | several different sources. It might be books and |
| completely ready for outsourcing. | | | | articles that describe proven methods for outsourcing. |
| And look at this email I received the other day: | | | | It might be software tools to help you manage |
| We are looking to get started soon. I would like to get | | | | outsourcing. Or it might mean hiring additional resources |
| a quote from your firm for its services. I need an | | | | that have outsourcing experience. |
| auction style web site to be built that could withstand | | | | Don't get discouraged if you get a low score on the |
| up to 10 million hits per day. I need to know how fast it | | | | readiness test. Remember that one of the seven |
| can be built and how much it will cost. I look forward to | | | | deadly dangers of outsourcing is not taking advantage |
| hearing from you... | | | | of outsourcing at all. Learn from your test results and |
| I replied asking for more information about what was | | | | make the changes needed to make your outsourcing |
| needed. At least a few additional details or some sort | | | | risk-free. |
| of specification are required to give any meaningful | | | | |