Staff augmentation has become a popular approach for companies to quickly and efficiently increase their development teams with skilled professionals. However, as with any business strategy, there are challenges that must be addressed to ensure success. In this article, we will discuss the common challenges of staff augmentation and provide solutions to overcome them.
If you’re still in the consideration process of engaging with a product development partner, check our blog entry on the matter.
Communication is crucial to any project’s success, but it can be especially challenging in a staff augmentation scenario. Remote teams face a different set of communication obstacles than co-located teams, and the communication barrier is often exacerbated by language and cultural differences.
According to Forbes, it’s important to establish clear communication channels and protocols from the outset. This can include the use of video conferencing tools, instant messaging apps, and project management software that supports real-time communication.
It’s also essential to set expectations for communication frequency, methods, and language. Ensuring all parties have access to the same information and resources helps build a foundation of trust and collaboration.
Integrating new team members with the existing team can be challenging. It can be difficult for new team members to understand the culture, work processes, and expectations of the existing team.
Create an onboarding process that emphasizes collaboration and team building. This can include assigning a mentor or buddy to new team members, providing training on company culture and processes, and creating opportunities for social interaction among team members.
Team building activities can help to build relationships and foster a sense of community, both of which are essential to achieving a cohesive team that works well together.
Maintaining the quality of the work produced by the augmented team is a crucial challenge. When new team members are brought in, they may not be familiar with the company’s quality standards or best practices.
This can include creating detailed specifications and guidelines for work, performing regular code reviews, and conducting quality assurance testing.
It’s also important to ensure that all team members are trained on the company’s quality standards and best practices, as well as provided with feedback and coaching to encourage continuous improvement.
Staff augmentation is often used to address temporary needs for additional staff, but it’s important to retain top talent for future projects. This can be challenging when team members are not full-time employees and may be seeking other opportunities.
Provide opportunities for growth and development for augmented team members. This can include offering training and certification programs, promoting from within, and creating a clear career path.
It’s also important to recognize and reward top performers, which can include bonuses, promotions, or other incentives that align with the company’s values and culture.
Data security is a major concern for companies, especially when working with remote teams. The risk of data breaches is heightened when working with outside vendors, as they may not have the same level of security protocols in place.
Securing communication channels, requiring background checks for team members, and implementing multi-factor authentication for access to sensitive data are all examples of security measures to implement from the get-go.
It’s also important to ensure that all team members are trained on data security protocols and best practices to minimize the risk of data breaches.
In conclusion, staff augmentation can be a beneficial strategy for companies looking to quickly increase their development teams with skilled professionals. By implementing the solutions we have outlined, companies can overcome these challenges and achieve their desired outcomes.
If you have questions about engaging with a nearshore provider, don’t forget to review our Ultimate Guide to Nearshore Software Development.
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