There are various reasons to hire an IT consultant and use IT staff augmentation, and when done properly, there are several advantages. A project or a necessity can be swiftly scaled up or down by a business. To fulfil the demands of their present and potential future business environments, they can employ personnel with certain training and skill sets. The company may reduce the cost of training to keep IT skills current, provide staffing flexibility to fill in any gaps in a project team or for continuing support, and accommodate its budget by hiring people with the appropriate experience, training, and skills at a reasonable price. In this post, we go over four areas that need caution and attention before your company brings on a partner.
Let’s look at some factors an organization must take into account before hiring IT staff augmentation, keeping in mind that if the organization does not plan for and manage the process, it is likely to be upset with the process and the results.
Number1
Your company may work with a partner for IT staff augmentation in large part because you require extra, specialised skills and resources. To avoid being at a disadvantage, keep in mind that if your project has a definite end date and termination, you will lose those abilities. You should still take into account the importance of this skill and expertise as well as the loss of that knowledge, regardless of whether your project calls for one-time resources or staff augmentation for long-term tasks. Create a process where metrics, workflow, and reporting may provide vital information to explain decisions and to gain the fundamental skills needed to continue a project or accomplish duties when staff augmentation is needed. Discuss these concerns with the consulting partner.
Number2
So that the business is aware of what to expect, it is crucial to record requirements and apply Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to the process. Don’t rely on luck in any way! The goal of an IT consultant isn’t so much to take advantage of you or offer subpar services. It is more important to be specific about your goals. A lot of things are open to interpretation. The IT consultant will be able to do a better job and increase the possibility that the business will be pleased with the outcomes and the project will succeed by providing more specific services.
Number3
However, it is vital that the company manage the project team. It is crucial that IT staff augmentation involve management practises on the part of the IT consultant (whether onsite, offshore or a combination of both). Keep in mind that your team is most suited to give leadership and management because they have the best understanding of the business’s culture, process, and structure. The management of the IT consultant team members should be transparent, and the management method should be in line with the service level agreement and the requirements that are generally accepted. After the fact, do not update or slightly modify expectations or requirements without first discussing them with the IT consultant management team and negotiating any necessary adjustments to the recorded list of requirements.
Number4
Your project to add more IT workers should clearly define roles and assign duties for making decisions, reporting and communicating problems, handling challenges relating to offered solutions to project problems, etc. Of course, as a team within the company, your team has the last say, but when situations develop that call for specialised knowledge or expertise from the IT consultant, the lines must be made very clear.Remember that internal team members may feel a feeling of ownership and significance, regardless of whether you have consultants on-site or your team is working with them remotely in an offshore connection. The last thing your organisation wants is to cause conflict or problems among the team members.
If you want to preserve the relationship, it’s imperative to establish boundaries and clearly define duties and obligations in advance.