Software development has known a drastic revolution during the past decades. The global market size approached USD 600B in 2022 and is expected to grow 12% annually thanks to:
The dynamics of the market add layers of complexity to decision-making. Finding and choosing the development team becomes more and more challenging. Here are Seven questions to make the life of any product Lead easier:
1- What are we striving to do here? First things first: What type of projects we are aiming to develop? Are we exploring unknown territories or is it a deja vu kind of software?
The complexity levels are different in the two scenarios above. However, this does not exclude the fact that rigorous upstream due diligence should be carried out. Elaborated specifications, as much as possible, help the development teams mitigate the operational and financial risks.
2- What is the Unique Value Proposition? The offer in the software development market is abundant but different. The developement team should be able to define what sets his offer apart from the competition i.e. the competitive advantages and added value. Define a sourcing strategy and a supplier selection process.
3- What is the empirical data and work History? The product owner has to ask questions about the agency's credentials in every bidding. For instance: The Legal aspects, Financials, and Organisation ... as well as the credentials of the individuals who will carry out the project. The references and case studies are also key to assessing track record and success rate. Reasonable assurance should prevail. The development team should prove the capacity to handle and deliver products and services.
4- What is the Technology and Methodology to be used? Nowadays, everyone is doing everything in every possible way. Beware of scammers! Like in every respectful scientific field, Software development is a sharp specialty.
Make sure the development teams understand your pain points first. They should then be able to display the methodology to adopt (SCRUM, Agile, Waterfall…). Not only that, but other subsequent questions should also be addressed:
5- What is the estimated time of execution and the cost of the investment?
“The cheap knows the price of everything but the value of nothing”
The competition in the software development market is fierce. Consequently, some agencies propose ridiculous timings at a meager cost. One more time: beware of scammers!
Quality needs time and has a price to pay. The reality of things imposes often limited timelines and budgets. Make sure you discuss and agree upon both before handshakes.
6- What are the post-launch challenges and how to mitigate them? The post-launch phase is an important milestone in the software development project. Still, experience showed that it is the least prioritized and focused on due to the rush to develop and put the product on the market. This approach jeopardizes the continuity and scalability of the product. Project leads should make sure that the deal offers the following:
7- What if something bad happens? bad things happen, and they happen when you do not expect them the most. Protection of personnel and assets is non-negotiable. The development agency should: