| Here are seven dangers of outsourcing your software | | | | successful with only a high-level specification and an |
| development. They become deadly if your career or | | | | outsourced team that can collaborate and |
| entire company depends on the timely release of your | | | | communicate with you to determine the details.Danger |
| software.Danger #1- Ignoring Outsourcing | | | | #5- Meager Engineering Management |
| It may seem safer to ignore outsourcing and stick | | | | Unfortunately, you cannot completely rely on an |
| with what has worked well in the past -- hire | | | | offshore team to manage your software |
| employee programmers and work with them directly | | | | development. They will do their best to meet |
| to get your software developed. There are situations | | | | commitments to schedules and a high level of quality. |
| where concerns about intellectual property or security | | | | You can outsource the programming but not all the |
| make this the only choice. But if you do not have | | | | responsibility for creating great software.Danger #6- |
| these constraints, then you are wasting money and | | | | Mediocre Software Development Methodology |
| time by hiring your own programmers.Danger #2- | | | | How do you go about the process of developing |
| Hiring the Wrong Team | | | | software? Do you create an excruciatingly detailed |
| It is a common mistake to look for an outsourcing | | | | spec and then micromanage? Do you pile up the |
| vendor only in your immediate circle of friends and | | | | features for a single stupendous major release? And |
| acquaintances. Considering ONLY your friend's | | | | do you make sure the offshore team must cram all |
| roommate's brother in Bangalore, or his cousin in Kiev, | | | | those features in the software by next Tuesday? If |
| is unlikely to provide you the outsourcing vendor that | | | | so, you have a mediocre software development |
| best matches your software development needs.Don't | | | | methodology.Do you assume "No News is Good |
| hire an outsourcing vendor that will be distracted by | | | | News", if you have not heard from your offshore |
| developing their own products. The best teams are | | | | team? Do you NOT have a standard software |
| dedicated to providing software development services | | | | release procedure or source code control system? If |
| for their clients and already have multiple happy clients | | | | so, you have a mediocre software development |
| in the US.Danger #3- Not Protecting Your Intellectual | | | | methodology.Danger #7- Quality as an Afterthought |
| Property | | | | QA is a critical part of the software development |
| The dangers of not protecting your intellectual | | | | process. It is also a major concern when you |
| property (IP) are multiplied when working with | | | | outsource to programmers that are far away. You |
| outsourcing. Are you using all three types of IP | | | | cannot wait to start testing until just before you |
| protection - physical, electronic and legal?Make sure | | | | release your software and rush an unacceptable |
| your outsourcing vendor has a secure facility and uses | | | | version into use. Having your users find the bugs is a |
| computers without removable media to reduce the risk | | | | bad strategy.***You don't need to repeat the mistakes |
| of unauthorized access to your IP. Use firewalls, VPN | | | | of other companies that have tried outsourcing and |
| and encryption to protect your IP when in transit over | | | | failed. Avoid these seven deadly dangers take |
| the Internet. Use proper legal protections including | | | | advantage of outsourcing as an effective strategy to |
| written agreements and NDAs that are enforceable in | | | | develop your software.Steve Mezak is a successful |
| the US. A clearly stated contract helps avoid | | | | Silicon Valley technical entrepreneur and global |
| disagreements later and keeps you from the expense | | | | outsourcing expert. Get your copy of his free report |
| of litigation.Danger #4- Not Knowing What Your | | | | on "The Seven Deadly Dangers of Outsourcing Your |
| Software Should Do | | | | Software Development and How Companies Like |
| Having good requirements and specifications are key | | | | Yours Can Avoid Them" by visiting his Accelerance |
| to successful software development, and especially | | | | outsourcing company web site now. |
| for outsourcing. Fortunately, outsourcing can be | | | | |