6 Tips to Evaluate Your
Development Partner/Solution Provider
By Thomas Parackal, CFO
As the customer, how would you ensure that you are dealing with
a service provider who can manage your requirements accurately?
Sometimes even you are not absolutely clear as to what the requirements
for your software product are. Here are some tips on how to evaluate
your development partner or service provider.
Examine the development partner/service provider for good documentation
practices. Good Documentation is very important for effectively
managing and implementing projects. A Requirements document is
mandatory.
Examine your service provider's requirements document and verify
that it truly reflects your needs.
Evaluate the development methodology for good processes. Ask
your service provider/developer to submit their methodology and
project plan. You can be assured that if your partner has well-developed
processes, you will have a quality output.
In outsource models, communication is a very crucial aspect.
Please ensure that your developer has clear and excellent communication
channels.
Ensure that the scope of the project is well defined. Often,
there are conflicts resulting out of poor understanding of the
scope by either party.
Evaluate your development partner to see if they understand
your business model. A service provider who sees the bigger picture
of your business is always the better choice. His value additions
can go beyond your specifications.
All the above information has been compiled from our experience
and learning through interaction with over 125 clients across the
globe, in building dynamic websites anchored in different business
models for them.
Surviving
Software Projects : Read more about the facts about software
projects failure rates and learn how a few simple factors can change
the way a project progresses.
