What to look for in a Software Developer
How to find a software developer:
First, give yourself plenty of time
to research the services available. Look for those with the
specific skills that you require. Here we have identified some
ways in which to find these firms:
- Word of Mouth: Talk to
others in your industry. Find out what kind of relationship
they have with outside consultants and reflect on their
experiences.
- Yellow pages: Look
under Computer Consultants. Check out their
message. Does it provide you with the information you
need?
- Internet Search: Use
the search engines to find appropriate web sites for
the services you need. Search for "Software developer" or
"custom software" for example. You should also be able to
find a company’s web site address from their yellow
pages ad and marketing material.
- Marketing flyers:
Store and review the marketing promotions and flyers you
receive through direct mail from these firms. You might not
need their services now, but you may in the
future.
- Articles and
advertisements in Industry magazines may also provide you
with appropriate contacts
What to look for when evaluating a software
developer:
Once you have created a list of
developers you will need to evaluate them on an individual
basis. The following is a list of criteria you should
consider:
- Track Record: The
developer should provide a list of relevant, recent projects
that they have completed successfully which clearly
demonstrates their expertise. Consider the
scope and size of the projects in relation to the one you are
interested in.
- Resources: The firm
should have sufficient resources to meet the
demands of your project. It is important that they are not
reliant upon the efforts of one person.
- Expertise: Carefully
evaluate the skill-set of the firm you are considering. Do
they have the relevant programming and technical background
you require for your project? Have they completed similar
projects using these skills in the past?
- Management: Does this
firm exhibit successful project management,
customer service and communication skills? Communication is
the most important factor in a successful client/developer
relationship.
- Quality Control: Does
this firm develop quality, bug-free products? Do they have a
documented testing protocol or procedure that
is integrated into their development system? What
system, if any, do they use to ensure that they
can deliver your project on time and on budget?
Do they have resources dedicated to this
function?
- Responsiveness: The
organization should respond in a timely manner to your
inquiries and proposal requests. Do they meet their
time commitments?
- Proposal: Does this
firm have a well-presented professional proposal? Is it
sufficiently detailed? Does it accurately reflect the problem
you wish to solve? Does it present a clear and concise
solution to your problem? Does the solution suggested
fit with your needs and requirements? Are
time-lines reasonable?
- Quotation: Does their
quotation reasonably reflect the work to be
completed? Is it within your budget? The cheapest price is
often not the best deal for you. Accepting a quotation that
is significantly lower than others could cost you more in the
long run due to a lack of thoroughness in the project
analysis.
- References: If this is
a firm that you are serious about you may want to check their
references. Most reputable firms will be able to provide you
with at least 5 references. Ask these clients about their
experiences with this firm in relationship to the above
items. Sample questions may be: Were they happy with the
quality of the work? Did they receive excellent customer
service? Was the product produced on time and on
budget? Would they recommend this firm to
others?
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