As the shortage of engineering talent intensifies, businesses are increasingly turning to offshore partners to build dedicated software development teams. But having a successful relationship with your offshore partner requires more than just a handshake. To make a good relationship and ensure smooth collaboration, you'll need to invest time and effort in overseeing the recruitment process, managing day-to-day activities, and building a solid rapport with your distributed team.
So, what can you do to ensure that your offshore development team delivers the desired results?
In this post, we share five practical strategies you can implement to manage your offshore software development team. But before we dive in, let's review what your offshore partner should do.
Recruiting
Leave the talent hunt to your offshore partner. They'll source, screen, and select highly skilled developers matching your needs. This includes a comprehensive assessment of both technical expertise and personality assessment to ensure a perfect fit with your company culture.
Effortless operations
With your offshore partner taking care of the day-to-day administrative tasks, you can focus on scaling your business and creating new products and services. They'll provide data-driven reports and be your 'mission support' on the ground in the offshore location.
Cultural cohesion
A cohesive team is critical to success. Your offshore team is not external support but full-time colleagues, so they must align with your organisational culture, mission, and vision. Your offshore partner will ensure your home and offshore teams work seamlessly together.
Quick scaling
Your strategic development goals require flexibility. Your offshore partner will provide a dedicated account manager to work with their recruitment team to hire new developers when you need to grow. The final hiring decisions are always yours, ensuring you get the right people for the job.
Let's explore those five strategies to supercharge your offshore software development team!
Align goals with your offshore team
Your offshore software development team is not just a group of contractors; they are an extension of your workforce and a valuable asset to your company's success. To ensure their investment in your vision, discuss your long-term goals and collaborate with them to develop innovative solutions that align with your business objectives.
Avoid the pitfalls of micromanagement
Micromanagement can harm your offshore team's morale and productivity, leading to high employee turnover rates. Trust your team to do their job and avoid constantly monitoring their every move. Instead, establish clear expectations and provide constructive feedback to foster a positive work environment.
Have a quick look on :The lowdown on effectively managing offshore tech teams
Partner with an IT specialist
Having a technical lead who understands your business's technical nuances can be a game-changer for your offshore software development team's success. This IT specialist will bridge the gap between your local and offshore teams, ensuring your new team has the guidance and direction they need to thrive.
Factor in time differences
Working with a distributed team can be challenging due to time differences. You can maintain effective communication between your local and offshore teams by scheduling overlapping meetings and catch-up calls—factor in time zone differences to create an efficient schedule that works for everyone.
Treat your offshore team as a partner
To build a strong partnership with your offshore software development team, treat them as an integral part of your business, not just a service provider. Acknowledge their efforts and technical skills, and ask for their input on improving processes and building better software. Treating them as partners will foster a collaborative and productive work environment.
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