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How to ensure quality (and performance) in outsourced software development projects?

This is a question I posed on the BCS Elite group on LinkedIn..

What ways to BSC Elite members ensure quality (and performance) in their outsourced software development projects?

I have only worked with in-house dev teams and we ensured quality by having a top-notch technical architect, well developed coding standards/processes and a strong QA function at the end (not that quality can be "inspected in" but knowing that little was going to get passed QA ensured better deliverables end-to-end).

But what is the best "formula" for an outsourced development project?

I could see how you might split the project between different vendors (effectively like we did in-house), with someone doing the design, another the development and another the QA and each acting as checks and balances on the other but I suspect that this would be (1) a contractual nightmare and (2) a recipe for "finger pointing" if things went wrong.

I am thinking in particular of SME's that might only have a very small (or no) in-house development capability that are looking for someone to develop a new application or website "end-to-end" so splitting the work would be a big headache.

The simplistic answer is "pick the right vendor" (a bit like picking the right builder or plumber) but most home owners can watch the building work each day and even someone with no building knowledge can have a gut feeling if its being "done right".

Software development is a "black box" to most senior managers and hence doing weekly code walkthroughs isn't really an option and ergo the first they know that they their new app or website is not a quality job is when it falls over on launch...

Any suggestions / checklists / advice gratefully appreciated!

If anyone reads the Blog please feel free to chip in via the Comments!

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