Six things I look for when outsourcing a project…
I have many friends that are in the technology industry. Quite often, I am asked what I would look for when looking to outsource a project. In this posting, I am listing the six things I would look for in a software developer when outsourcing my project.
Legal representation in the United States:
I need the piece of mind that comes from knowing I have some type of legal recourse should something go wrong. This comes from being able to enter into a contract with the developer. It doesn’t matter where the work takes place. I just need to have somebody responsible located in the United States.
Quality of their portfolio:
I believe that the past is a very good indicator of the future, especially when software development is concerned. If they have done good work in the past, I can reasonably expect good work on my project.
Experience:
They need to have experience doing the type of project I need them to do. I don’t want to pay my developer to learn on my project. There are enough good developers out there that you should be able to find somebody who has done the type of work you need at the right price.
References:
Always ask to speak with references. You want to work with somebody whose clients speak highly of them. The quality of service that they receive is what you can expect. Integrity in this business is very important. Not everybody has it. You need to trust your developer.
Guarantees:
Does the developer stand behind their work? You want to work with somebody who will go out of their way to make sure you get what you want. It is worth it to spend extra money for a developer who can do this.
Understanding of my business:
Mastery of the technical side of my project is very important. Just as important is their understanding of my business. They should understand what it is they are building is supposed to do and how it will be used by the end user. This is basic but you would be surprised how much this is overlooked.
Please let me know if you have any comments or insights. I will be expanding on this subject in future posts.