Smarter Software Outsourcing

Explore the hidden costs in project success and why fixed price locks you into something you can't change and will live with until your next project. [0:00] Intro to Fixed Price Projects: Why disappointment is inevitable [2:26] Tell us about your experience running fixed-cost projects. But first, could you describe what a fixed cost project is? [7:20] What kind of expectations did the clients...

We know outsourcing software development can greatly decrease costs. But we also know that lower rates don’t always translate to an overall better deal, and that’s the very challenge of outsourcing. So where does the notion of Value for Money fit in all this? [0:00] Intro to “Custom Software Development Outsourcing: What Does Value for Money Mean?” [1:43] Common reasons for outsourcing [1:48] Outs...

Assessing outsourcing firms should always include efforts to appreciate their culture and values, including elements that aren’t immediately visible online (or even perceivable over the phone). This podcast episode helps you approach these aspects more efficiently and avoid building an opinion exclusively on what you see on the surface. [0:00] Intro to “Picking an Outsourcing Provider: Company Cul...

Partnering with an outsourcing firm in the Philippines to bring in more experts to your software project team can make sense in many ways… Provided that you do it right. Here’s a list of high-level points you’ll want to check to stack all the odds in your favor and build a successful partnership for the long haul. How many items can you tick off? [0:00] Intro to “Outsourcing Checklist: 7 Essential...

As a software project owner, what behaviors can you adopt to boost your offshore team’s motivation and grow trust among them? What unsuspected practices can typically destroy their performance? We’ve asked a bunch of developers from Arcanys to deliver the 4 truths you’ll want to be aware of if you expect your relationship with your distributed team to thrive and your project to succeed. [0:00] Int...

In Agile software development, you would want your team to deliver the most potentially deployable software after every iteration, with as little waste—human resources and rework—as possible. That's a tall order, especially if you're working with an offshore team. In today's episode, I will break down the top 5 best practices I have learned from experience in the industry. [0:00] In...

Even in mature companies with good programmers already on board, hiring one bad programmer can still derail a project's timeline—leading to additional costs if not managed properly. So how do you dodge this trap? In today's episode, I'll share with you a few tips on how to avoid hiring bad programmers that may help. [0:00] Intro to "How to avoid hiring bad programmers?" [2...

Among all the factors that come to mind when we get ready to evaluate a custom software development provider, these two—security and contractual aspects, often come last. But they're certainly not the least when it comes to partnering with a business partner for the long term. Join me in today's episode as I share my ideas on ensuring a safe outsourcing partnership for your organization....

What are your workflows like? How will you communicate daily updates with your local and distributed teams? How does cultural awareness affect your team's working environment? How are progress reports communicated? And most significantly, how do you determine the standards of quality between you and your provider? These and a few other crucial questions are important when considering a prospe...

It’s clear that today’s pandemic is destabilizing businesses and pushing many of them to rethink not only their cost structure but also the way they operate and deliver. For CTOs and executives trying to think through their potential COVID-19 response options more proactively, handing over software development to another company appears as a solid strategic choice. Today, I've listed down sev...

Assessing your prospective software development outsourcing partner can be a very tedious process. Many things must be considered and aspects that need in-depth investigation. Luckily, after many studies and my experience in the field, I figured out two of the most important aspects I suggest you examine and evaluate when picking the best partner for your organization — the company's backgrou...

In today's episode, we will maximize the power of the internet and utilize tools to help us find the right provider. How do you effectively start your market research? What tools are readily available to help you filter potential providers? Remember, making a shortlist of promising companies based on the criteria that matter to you is an essential step, as this will give you a clear perspecti...

It's settled: you've decided to outsource part of your software development. But are your expectations crystal clear? How do you envision the collaboration? In this episode, I give you a rundown of criteria to reflect on to make sure you start looking for the right type of outsourcing providers. [0:00] Intro to “How well do you know your outsourcing needs?” [1:57] Understand all your cur...

In this episode, I'll be talking to Derek Gallimore, founder of Outsource Accelerator, the most trusted source of independent information and expert advice about outsourcing in the Philippines. Together, we will tackle topics that will help businesses planning to go the BPO way make more informed decisions such as "Why is it important to understand the ins and outs of outsourcing?"...

Is putting comments in code a good habit, or an unnecessary waste of time? In this episode, I'm here together with Eric, a Senior Software Architect working with Arcanys, and we'll talk about one of the most debated topics in this complex world of software development. [0:00] Intro to Should developers comment their code? [1:42] Should you actually comment your code? [2:10] What makes it...