The 6 Cardinal Principles of Effectively Communicating in Offshore Software Development

Developing software and deploying them in your business is not a simple task. There is the price factor to consider, the returns it will bring in the immediate future, how fast it will go obsolete and the cost of maintaining it and making changes from time to time. Yet another factor that should not be lost sight of is the human angle to software. People within the organization need to be trained in its use. Without proper training the software is as good as thrash. 

 

The high cost of developing software is one of the reasons why businesses in developed companies leave its development to software companies offshore. Offshore software development has big advantages – it is possible to develop them at low prices, quality can be ensured, specialized skills can be availed, and still more benefits too are available. For many software companies in the high cost economies, the offshore software development process route is the best way to make big profits.

Offshore development may look simple on the face of it, but it has its risks. Unless properly managed, costs can go up and there will be unacceptable time delays. Most businesses that managed the process well are a happy lot however. The key to a successfully outsourcing program therefore lays in how it is managed. There is no dearth to coders/programmers or resource centers in top software development countries like India for example. 

 

Here are some cardinal principles to follow in managing offshore outsourcing.

1. Before work on the project begins, set up a communication channel with the vendor companies. That means you and the vendor will have to sort out the language issue first. When you outsource to countries like India, you may not feel difficult in communicating but the understanding can sometimes be fatal. It is therefore important to switch to text communication and keep verbal to its minimum.
2. Make text communication the primary channel for transfer of ideas, day to day contact and for transferring details. The reason why text is better is that you and your vendor get a record of what was and what was not communicated. It lends well to reexamining. It is fine for taking corrective steps at the earliest possible. Yet another advantage is that the developer will be able to use records for documenting the software in the future.
3. When you assign or take up an offshore, request or send clarification at the earliest possible time. It will reduce the time required for communicating itself by leaving the developers to what they are best at – writing the codes impeccably.
4. Set the time for interacting with the vendors. This is particularly important because offshore vending often happens in different time zones across the world. There are of course countries that have time advantage. For example if you live in the US, you will find countries like India very comfortable because it is work time in India when it is time to retire for the day in the US. It means you will be able to monitor progress during working hours and issuing instructions for people working in the other half of the world.
5. Understanding how developers work offshore is important. When you understand the work culture, you will be able to communicate much better and in a meaningful way. You will know what to tell and what not to.
6. Be open to new ideas. It is always possible that the developers have something better in their mind for the working environment of the software. Rather than sticking to your own premonitions and misplaced ideas, it always helps to hear what coders have to say at the other end.

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