Building a Systems Development Team - Outsourcing

Can’t we just hire somebody to do this for us? The answer is more complex than a simple "Yes" or "No."

Steve Jost Profile Picture
Share
Contributors Chris Hodge Profile PictureChris Hodge David Brown Profile PictureDavid Brown
  1. Outsourcing the development work will still require a significant amount of resources from your internal team. The team will have to describe the process they are trying to automate with enough detail for a third party to efficiently and expertly step in. Your team will also be involved in support activities, including testing and training.
  2. Larger contractors are now starting to make acquisitions of technology companies rather than outsourcing to a third party. This allows them to more tightly control the results of the system development process (which they view as a competitive advantage).
  3. If you want to test the waters in outsourcing some development tasks or functions, start slowly (and small), with well-defined requirements and carefully managing expectations. You can spend a ton of money in “change orders” if you are not careful!

This is Part 11 of an 18-Part Series


Topics Covered in the Series Include:

  • Clarification
  • Software
  • Best Fit
  • Risk
  • Applications

All relationships start with a simple conversation. Let’s schedule some time to talk about your specific challenges and opportunities.


Building a Systems Development Team - Outsourcing
Construction technology innovation is accelerating and the contractors that learn how to effectively integrate technology into every aspect of their business will dominate tomorrow. ...

Building a Systems Development Team - Outsourcing
Construction technology innovation is accelerating and the contractors that learn how to effectively integrate technology into every aspect of their business will dominate tomorrow. ...

Planning for the Continued Decline of the Deep Expertise Age Band in Construction
Strategies and tactics for contractors to thrive despite the 25% decline in the "Deep Expertise" age band between 2015 and 2030. There are no magic bullets but there are proven processes that have been used before.
Retirement Onboarding and Ownership Transitions
The onboarding and integration of a new team member is something the best contractors rigorously manage as one of the 9 critical talent processes. What we don’t always pay as close attention to is what Sue Weiler-Doke frames as “Retirement Onboarding."
Measure What Matters - OKRs
John Doerr just released a new book on the use of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) to grow organizations. This is a phenomenal tool and can be used to align contractors vertically as well as horizontally.