Software Sweatshop

 I’m usually not a big reader of TechCrunch (not because I don’t like it, but because I’m not sophisticated enough to understand most of what they’re talking about) but I saw a post the other day that made me laugh. It talks about the increasing use of offshore outsourcing by Silicon Valley startups (Digg, SlideShare, illumobile.com) There were two cartoons that perfectly illustrate the problems with outsourcing, provided by Sandeep Sood over at DoubtSourcing.com

They illustrate common complaints we hear about these software sweatshops:

•Vendor had inadequate technical skills
•Don’t understand the concept of a deadline (work is consistently late with the most creative excuses you can imagine)
•They don’t respond when the sh*t hits the fan
•Just don’t get what you’re saying (but act like they do)
•Don’t figure things out for themselves (but still bill you for their time)
•Have high attrition
•Just don’t understand Web 2.0
•They forgot about you when they get a bigger client
•Sold the A Team but delivered the B Team
•Claimed they were the biggest, cheapest, best, etc.
•Were ‘yes men’ and ALWAYS give you the answer you want to hear

I wrote an article with some practical tips to avoid these ‘software sweatshops’ 8 Ways to Avoid an Outsourcing Disaster

The cartoons accurately illustrate how most offshore vendors are simply ‘yes men’. You’ll find very good technical people all over the world, but finding people who are reliable is next to impossible. Sandeep agrees with our philosophy that a sign of maturity is the ability to say ‘No’. It's extremely rare to find a vendor that will tell you like it is. We've heard countless stories of offshore firms over-promising and under-delivering. You need to look for a partner that can be honest with you from day one, even if it means that they lose your business. A company that sets up realistic expectations is a company you can rely on, even if it's not the answer you wanted to hear.