Unknown Facts About Company Evaluations Revealed By The Experts
The first impression says a whole lot about a firm, especially about software development companies in a time like this when thousands of offshore firms fiercely compete against each other, and where professionalism is becoming a trade off for low prices.
When you first contact a prospective software development provider, ask yourself how they present themselves; how long does it take for the firm to get back to you on emailed questions? Does each representative have their number shown in their e-mail signatures? Does the company mobile device you up to talk about your requirements? Does the company appear to grasp your requirements and is verbal communication flawless?
In today's world of outsourcing, freelancers commonly work with a company name of their own to lure their prospective clients into thinking that they have more experience than what they really have. In reality they may very well be one man shows who perhaps will not be able to give you sufficiently fast turn around times, nor board assessment tools an extensive selection of expertise. Always speak to a representative of your prospective partners and probe them on their own company's track record, location and range of employees. A company that refrains from having a telephone conversation with you is a clear warning sign that something fishy is going on.
Software development companies should be able to present a lot of information on their own operations and prior projects. Ask for case studies, coding conventions, testimonials, résumés of the staff that will be able to work on your project and all other information that may be used to judge the professionalism of your future software development partner.
Once you feel that the company evaluated has presented itself well within the first stage of evaluation, go ahead and ask for references and proof of prior experience such as case studies or simply even demos of applications much like that you will be going to produce. Once you've asserted that the company has the expertise necessary to take on your project you can proceed with asking for and analyzing the business's proposal.
Within the company's proposal, cost and milestones should be clearly specified as well as terms of payment. Other aspects worth noticing is regardless of whether the proposal stresses the benefits that the application will bring with it for your organization and if it includes suggestions on how to go beyond the initial goals outlined. What will the turn around time be for finishing the application, as well as more importantly what shall happen in the event the deadline just isn't met?
In the final agreement you sign with your software development partner, ensure that a requirements specification is included and signed. The requirements specification should be as detailed as it can be and all possible functionality that you require should be printed onto that specification. Without having a clear requirements specification a software development agreement shall do no good in the event your partner decides to deliver an incomplete product.
Your project's success or failure will be fully contingent on the selection of software development partner. Read on to learn about the most significant aspects when it comes to analyzing a prospective software development partner and their software development proposal.