As a business leader, you may have considered bringing in a skilled third-party development team to support your software initiatives. While traditional outsourcing is a popular choice, it does come with challenges, such as budget constraints and a lack of control over project direction.
Fortunately, the extended team model provides a more flexible and cost-effective alternative. This approach allows you to access top-tier software engineers worldwide while maintaining full control over your project. You get the best of both worlds—the expertise of an external team without completely handing off development to an outsourced provider.
However, successfully integrating an extended team requires careful planning and execution. It’s essential to ensure that external developers align with your in-house team, both in terms of workflow and company culture. When managed correctly, an extended team can enhance your development capacity and drive innovation.
To help you make the most of this model, we’ve outlined everything you need to know about selecting, structuring, and managing an extended software development team. Keep reading to discover how you can take advantage of this powerful approach to software development.
[What is an Extended Software Development Team?]
An extended software development team is a strategic collaboration model where businesses augment their in-house teams with external IT professionals. Unlike traditional outsourcing, an extended team works as an integrated part of the company, maintaining direct communication and alignment with internal goals. This model enables businesses to access specialised expertise, scale efficiently, and enhance productivity without the complexities of in-house hiring which we all know can be incredibly time-consuming and frustrating.
Key Characteristics of an Extended Development Team
- Integration with Internal Teams: Unlike outsourcing, extended teams work as an extension of your existing team, aligning with your company’s goals and workflows.
- Long-Term Collaboration: These teams are built for sustained engagement rather than short-term projects.
- Direct Management: The company retains control over workflows, ensuring consistency and quality.
- Access to Global Talent: Businesses can source top talent from different locations, ensuring they have the right skills at the right time.
[Why Choose an Extended Development Team for Your Business?]
Businesses opt for an extended development team model for several reasons, including:
Access to Skilled Talent
Recruiting top-tier developers in-house can be challenging, especially when competing for specialised skills. An extended team allows businesses to source experienced developers, QA engineers, designers, and project managers from a global talent pool.
Cost Efficiency
Hiring an in-house team involves significant costs, including salaries, benefits, infrastructure, and training. An extended team reduces these expenses while maintaining a high level of expertise and efficiency.
Scalability and Flexibility
An extended development team allows businesses to scale up or down based on project needs, making it easier to handle fluctuations in workload without long-term commitments.
Faster Time to Market
By leveraging an extended team, companies can accelerate development cycles, avoid recruitment delays, and bring products to market faster.
Focus on Core Business Activities
With an extended team handling development, internal teams can focus on innovation, strategy, and business growth rather than operational bottlenecks.
[How to Structure Your Extended Development Team for Success]
To maximise the effectiveness of an extended development team, businesses should focus on the following structural elements:
Define Clear Roles and Responsibilities
Establishing well-defined roles ensures seamless collaboration between in-house and extended team members. Typical roles include:
- Project Managers: Oversee workflows and ensure smooth coordination.
- Developers: Work on coding, debugging, and implementing solutions.
- Quality Assurance (QA) Engineers: Ensure software reliability and performance.
- UI/UX Designers: Focus on user experience and interface design.
- DevOps Engineers: Optimise infrastructure, automate deployment, and enhance security.
Align Goals and Expectations
Clearly communicate project objectives, technical requirements, deadlines, and quality standards. This alignment helps avoid miscommunication and ensures the team delivers value from the outset.
Establish Efficient Communication Channels
Utilising collaboration tools such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Jira creates essential transparency and seamless coordination between in-house and external teams. Regular stand-ups and check-ins also enhance accountability and alignment.
[Finding the Right Tech Partner for Your Extended Team]
Selecting the right development partner is crucial to the success of an extended team. Key factors to consider include:
Expertise and Experience
Ensure the partner has experience in your industry and relevant technology stacks. Reviewing case studies and client testimonials can provide insights into their capabilities.
Cultural and Work Ethic Alignment
A good cultural fit ensures smoother collaboration, particularly when working across different time zones and backgrounds.
Security and Compliance Standards
Verify that the partner follows best practices for data security, confidentiality, and compliance with industry regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA.
Proven Track Record and Reliability
Check references, previous projects, and reviews to ensure your partner has a strong history of delivering high-quality work on time and within budget.
Scalability and Flexibility
A good tech partner should be able to adapt to your evolving needs, whether you need to scale your team up or down based on project demands.
Key Benefits of Building an Extended Development Team
A well-structured extended team offers numerous advantages, such as:
- Enhanced Productivity: Continuous development cycles ensure steady progress.
- Innovation and Fresh Perspectives: External team members bring new ideas and technical expertise.
- Reduced Recruitment Hassles: Eliminates lengthy and costly hiring processes.
- Risk Mitigation: Spreads workload and reduces dependency on internal resources.
- 24/7 Development Capability: Global teams can facilitate around-the-clock development.
How to Onboard an Extended Development Team Effectively
Successful onboarding ensures smooth integration and long-term collaboration. Key steps include:
Provide Comprehensive Documentation
Offering guides, coding standards, and process workflows helps the extended team understand expectations and best practices.
Assign a Dedicated Point of Contact
Having a single point of contact helps resolve issues quickly and ensures alignment between in-house and extended teams.
Introduce the Team to Internal Stakeholders
Encouraging relationship-building and knowledge sharing strengthens collaboration and fosters team cohesion.
Define Performance Metrics
Setting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) allows businesses to measure team efficiency, progress, and overall impact.
Ensure a Trial Period
A probationary phase allows both parties to assess compatibility before committing to a long-term arrangement.
Final Thoughts
Building an extended software development team is a strategic approach to enhancing IT capabilities, reducing costs, and accelerating project delivery. By carefully selecting the right tech partner, establishing clear structures, and leveraging effective management practices, businesses can fully reap the benefits of an extended development model.
Whether you're looking to scale your team or improve project efficiency, an extended software development team through Evolved Ideas could be the key to your business's growth and success. Speak to us about our Evolved Teams service today and flex your team quickly.