Choosing a Product Development Partner--These questions can help

I usually share this article with most of my clients, who are looking to outsource their system development and application programming. Perhaps a leading-edge technology start-up, very knowledgeable and looking to strengthen their product offerings. Or a very large enterprise that has a one-time requirement for very capable custom software.

The search for third-party assistance can quickly become tedious and confusing. Every outsourcer they meet or send email to affirms that they are the best of the breed, faster, cheaper, that they have exactly what’s needed before you even send them a formal Request for Information (RFI).

There are so many different types, you find out – freelancers, small companies, local contractors, full-service domestic organizations that are big names in the IT industry.

But they have also heard about more affordable rates and efficient delivery models of India-based IT companies, and finally, dual-shore companies with onshore as well as offshore capabilities.. Herewith forty hardnosed questions to weed out the pretenders from the achievers and make sure the integrated service provider you partner with can and will meet ALL your needs. Company Description and Background 1. Please render brief history of your company, including how many years you have been in business. 2. Are you a subsidiary of any other company? If so, what company is that and please describe how autonomous your operations are. 3. What are the key differentiating points between yourself and your competitors? 4. Please submit organization chart and the credentials of your management team. 5. Please list the industries/verticals that you have done work for.. 6. Please list 3 current client references with contact names and phone numbers. 7. (IF A LEGAL ENTITY IN THE UNITED STATES) Please state your status as a minority- or veteran-owned enterprise, if applicable. Operations 8. Please provide full address, contact person and details for each of your offices What are your specializations as an independent software developer and provider? 9. What engineering process variations, integration products and technologies do you support completely in-house? (e.g. agile, RUP, spiral, waterfall, others) 10. On what basis do you prefer to quote for software development projects? 11. Please detail the vision/mission, ISO programs (or other process management), day-to-day leadership practices and culture you will put in place to ensure a software development project will completed to the highest standards and on time. 12. What is the minimum work experience you will deploy for our development team? 13. Can you provide access to onshore and global talent? How do you do that? 14. What kind of ongoing training do you provide your developers and how often throughout the year? 15. Describe the working relationship between developers and QA. Are you amenable to third-party QA? 16. Do you routinely do proof-of-concept and at what stages? 17. Describe how you will implement integrity and physical security for my project team and code. 18. What project sizes do you handle best, based on your staffing, experience, internal processes, access to resources, etc.? 19. What is the extent of internationalization and localization that you have done? 20. Do you carry insurance against general liability, errors and omissions? Project Management 21. What can you do for me if I do not have the technical expertise in-house to define a complex project? 22. Can you guarantee that we will deal with the same Account Manager throughout the life cycle of any project we contract with you 23. Will the Account Manager and key team members be online during working hours in my time zone? If not, please state your turnaround time for responding to client concerns relayed by phone or email. 24. Do you guarantee a monthly/weekly review with a key executive of yours in our offices? If so, will we be billed extra for this or will it be part of the project contract? 25. What options do I have for selecting the team myself? 26. Can I visit my team any time I want? 27. What tools do your developers use to streamline and accelerate projects? 28. How do you ensure that you give the most accurate time estimates in the contract? What do you do to ensure the fastest time to market? 29. Please define your policy on intellectual property and code re-use. 30. Whose time zone is best if I wish to contact one of your management team? 31. How do you handle a client who is not satisfied with the quality of your work? 32. What problems commonly arise in your development cycles and how do you address them? 33. Once completed, can you provide 24/7 online help and support? 34. How do you ensure bulletproof security for Web-based applications? Why Such an Extensive List for a First Contact? In short, why try to find out so much for a first screening? Can it not wait for the stage when bidders make their respective live pitches? Well, the truth is yes, it can wait. But think of it as shortlisting your independent software providers right away. Whether you are the CIO at a Fortune 500 enterprise or the Office Manager for a ten-attorney practice, chances are your working day is chockfull for days and weeks on end. Can you really afford to spend time with a dozen ISP’s all wanting half a day each to make their pitch?