INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Software for Business
development company are not as high as
commonly perceived. Indeed, when you take
the total cost into account, including the
costs of training your in-house developers
and the costs of scaling (which forces you to
pay a premium to get people in to meet your
demands), you arguably get far more value
when you outsource.
Long-term partnerships,
smart structures
If you choose to go the outsourced route,
the key to success is to build a long-term
partnership with a trusted software
development company. When choosing such
a partner, it is critical to examine how that
company operates, and what their internal
structures are. How do they get things done,
and where do decision-making powers lie?
At local development firm, redPanda
Software, for example, the company has
implemented a unique decision-making
‘spine structure’. So, in a team of nine
or 10 people, three of them are enabled
to make real time decisions. This ‘spine’
in the business structure allows those
who are technically skilled to make real
time decisions that are often critical to a
successful outcome.
Gareth Hawkey, CEO, redPanda Software
and skilled developers by providing them
with a positive environment and unique
culture, whereby they can learn and grow
into new and challenging roles. Often, in-
house developers find it difficult to fit into
the culture of other organisations and fail to
develop new skills and expertise.
Finally, it is much easier for an outsourced
partner to scale up or down according to
demand. Such a partner can reallocate its
resources more effectively and efficiently
across various clients, as the demand of
each varies in what is undoubtedly a fast-
changing business environment.
Given the ability to allocate resources
according to needs (not rigid contracts),
the costs of outsourcing to a software
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INTELLIGENTCIO
WITHOUT DOUBT,
TODAY’S BUSINESS
ENVIRONMENT
IS FAR MORE
COMPLEX, DYNAMIC
AND DISRUPTIVE
THAN IT WAS JUST
TEN YEARS AGO.
Essentially, the spine includes the tech lead
who is the most senior developer on the
team, the tester who is responsible for the
quality of the code, and the business analyst
who is responsible for making sure the
developers understand what the customer’s
specifications are. These three individuals
are typically people who understand the
company’s vision and overall strategy, and
have a great deal of business savvy.
In addition to meeting client expectations
and producing powerful work, this structure
allows the company to upskill and support
developers interested in advancing
their career along the managerial track.
Importantly, it also nurtures a supportive and
exciting environment for the whole team, as
they feel part of the process rather than just
cogs in a bigger machine.
Ultimately, for companies that choose to go
the outsourced development route, there are
infinite benefits to be enjoyed – as long as
the right partner is selected. n
www.intelligentcio.com