Choosing the right extended team or ETM for your IT project can significantly impact its success. By carefully evaluating potential partners based on technical expertise, cultural fit, communication capabilities, flexibility, and cost structures, you can build a robust team that complements your in-house resources.
What is Extended Team Model or ETM?
The Extended Team Model involves integrating external developers into your existing in-house team. This approach allows companies to fill skill gaps, enhance project capacity, and maintain control over project management while benefiting from diverse expertise. ETM represents great alternative to overall outsourcing of your project.
The extended team can include various roles such as software developers, testers, UI/UX designers, and DevOps specialists.
Here are some critical features of this model:
- Collaboration: Extended teams work closely with in-house staff, enhancing a collaborative environment.
- Flexibility: This model provides scalability, allowing you to adjust team size based on project demands.
- Control over your project: Unlike complete outsourcing of your project, the ETM model offers you to mantain control over the project, its management and workflow.
- Cost Efficiency: This model often proves more cost-effective than hiring full-time employees, as you pay only for the work done without incurring additional operational costs
The Extended Team Model: A Strategic Solution for IT Projects
IT outsourcing has long been recognized as an effective business strategy aimed at reducing software development costs. By partnering with a specialized tech company, businesses can avoid the complexities and expenses associated with building an in-house team.
But what happens if you already have a capable team but lack a critical role for a specific project? When it comes to expanding a product, developing new features, or scaling operations, you may find that additional support is essential. In scenarios where hiring a full-time employee isn’t practical or necessary, the extended team model emerges as an excellent alternative.
How to Choose Your Extended Team?
Selecting an extended team follows a process similar to choosing an outsourcing partner. Start by evaluating the company’s portfolio or case studies, reading reviews from past clients, and examining company profiles as well as the CVs of their software developers.
Ideally, after you brief them on your project, they should respond with their proposed process, suggestions, and questions to gain a deeper understanding of your idea. This allows them to tailor a solution that perfectly fits your needs.
Here’s a quick checklist for what to look for:
- Publications: Do they actively share knowledge and expertise?
- Industry Recognition: Have they been acknowledged by reputable companies or media?
- Client References: Are there references from past or current clients available?
- English Proficiency: Do they have sufficient language skills to effectively collaborate with your team?
- Cultural Fit: Besided assessing the technical skills, you might evaluate also the cultural fit and how well they could align with your company culture.
Nearshoring vs Offshoring
You’ve already made the decision to adopt the extended team model, but now you might be wondering whether to source your team locally or look for talent elsewhere. This is the perfect opportunity to explore the options of nearshoring and offshoring.
Traditionally, project Offshoring has been common. This model involves relocating business operations to distant locations. Offshored projects or departments function in different time zones, languages, and cultural settings, which is often what organizations think of when considering IT project outsourcing.
In contrast, Nearshoring is a modern alternative that offers significant advantages over the traditional approach. This model involves outsourcing operations to countries geographically close to the headquarters or main branches. The shorter distance enhances cultural and linguistic similarities, facilitating smoother working relationships and improving communication.
Steps to follow in order to choose the right ETM
- Define your business needs to frame up the scope, requierements and the timeline
- Make the short list of potential partners with proven track record of their work, portfolio and relevant experience
- Start the communication and assess the attitude of the company.
- Contact the references available on their website or social media
- Choose the team and start with minor project
As companies across Europe seek innovative solutions to complex challenges, leveraging an extended team may just be the strategic advantage needed to stay competitive in the ever-evolving tech landscape.
Are you interested in outsourcing your project? Contact us and find out more about how we can help you.
