If you have any questions, contact Olena Sholomytska at olena@sd-house.com.

How much will I save if I use your offshore team?

Overall savings may vary from up to 30%, compared to the traditional project based outsourcing model, and up to 60%, compared to in-house development. Moreover, there are no infrastructure, benefit or payroll tax expenses.

I don't believe an off-site team can be as effective, or even more effective as my on-site team. You're saying the costs will be lower, but how do I know your team will provide the same or better performance as my on-site team?

The performance of your dedicated team will be continuously monitored by you and us. First, you assign a Manager from your staff to supervise the development process and report to you on a regular basis. Second, you establish the communication processes and frequency you require. Third, task management and reporting is a top priority. This way, you will be able to effectively supervise the development process and gain trust in your dedicated team’s performance.

You claim that the offshore team will work as an extension of my company. Where does the responsibility of offshore company lie then?

Offshore company is responsible for providing office space, as well as infrastructure set-up and maintenance - these are the issues that our customers don't have to worry about at all. Offshore company is responsible for personnel recruitment, payroll and all HR issues. Offshore company is responsible for comprehensive security that is extremely important for offshore outsourcing. On the whole Offshore company is responsible for ALL the organizational issues related to offshore operation.

Will I own all of the source code produced by an offshore company?

Yes, you will. ALL work products created by an offshore company are considered "work made for hire," and the intellectual property rights embodied in it are your sole and exclusive property.

Does the billing rate depend on the team members' experience, skills, language proficiency, etc.?

If you need a team with skills and expertise that are in great demand (e.g., SAP, Lotus Applications, or Cisco), it may cost you more.

Can you put together a team to work for me onshore?

Usually offshore company can do it. Note, however, that onshore outsourcing doesn't save nearly as much as offshore outsourcing does because the wages and infrastructure expenses are significantly high.

How do I make sure that programmers, managers, and other specialists on the team have appropriate experience?

The best way to make sure all of the team members have appropriate experience is to personally participate in the team selection process (i.e., review the resumes of all potential team members and interview the candidates via the telephone).

Is it possible to establish a test period for an offshore team? Say, three months?

Usually offshore company is able to do this. This shall be discussed on case by case basis.

What if I'm not satisfied with the performance of a team member?

If you are not satisfied with the performance of a team member. Offshore company will replace the team within period of time at no cost to customers.

What should I do to increase the efficiency of the offshore team?

Most importantly, manage offshore team as part of your in-house team. Also, you should use management tools for planning and reporting, project tracking, task management, and change request management. The tools that usually are available:

• Bugzilla - a flexible collaboration tool for bug tracking.
• SharePoint - a document management system for reviewing documentation in the course of distributed development.
• CVS (Concurrent Versions System) - a version control system with plug-in functionality. This is a robust open-source cross-platform network-transparent system that serves as a common repository for your in-house staff and offshore team.
• RequestTracker - a technical support system; an open-source web based system for managing new tasks and efforts.
• ICQ, MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger and other instant messaging programs, as well as the Skype Internet telephony - collaboration tools for online communications.
• VPN (Virtual Private Network) - a network that is constructed by using public wires to connect nodes (Cisco VPN and Checkpoint VPN to improve the security of communications).
  

How will I communicate with an offshore team?

Telephone conversations, e-mail, and instant messaging allow you to establish prompt and reliable communication.

Is the difference in time zones a problem?

The difference in time zones is a natural consequence of the situation when the development team is in another area of the world. The best way around this is setting mutually acceptable times for online meetings.
Also, note that the time difference may be an advantage, if you are interested in "round-the-clock" programming. Working with the overseas team in shifts, so that programming goes on 24 hours a day, is extremely efficient if you need to reduce the time to market.

Will all of the team members be able to communicate with me? Are they fluent in written and spoken English? Can you set up a test in English for the team?

Usually all employees of the company must successfully pass an English proficiency test before they are hired.

How is reporting arranged? How often will I be updated?

Normally, formal reporting is done on a weekly basis via e-mail or one of the communication / collaboration tools. Also, you can always review the progress of the project yourself by using the common repository that is continuously updated. If you want to change the reporting procedure, it's up to you. After all, you run the show.