alvand solutions pmi oc offshoring ats presentation

IT OFFSHORE DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT –

A PROJECT MANAGER’S PERSPECTIVE

David Jones

VP Professional Services

Alvand Solutions

www.alvandsolutions.com

Copyright 2010. Alvand Solutions

AGENDA

Introductions

Determining Which Projects to Offshore

Offshore Management Framework

Break

Managing an Offshore Team

Case Study

Q&A


INTRODUCTIONS

Name

Company or Industry

Position

Experience with Offshore Projects


DETERMINING WHICH PROJECTS TO OFFSHORE

Project Selection

Partner Selection

Common Problems

Risks


PROJECT SELECTION

•Well Defined

•Little Potential for Change

•Repetitive Work

•Website Development

•Data Conversion

•Minimal Customer Interaction

Criteria


PROJECT SELECTION

•Build a Solid Business Case

•Long-term Benefits

•Communicate the Reasons for Offshoring the Project

•Dealing with Skeptics

Overcoming Objections


PARTNER SELECTION

•Business Stability

•Financial

•Well Established

•Project Portfolio

•Complexity

•Similarity with Your Project

•Internal Processes

•Flexibility

•Previous Experience Working with a US Organization

•Familiarity with U.S. Culture, Corporate Life

What to Look For


PARTNER SELECTION

•Technical Interview

•Comparable to US-based Resources

•Communication Skills

•Clear, Effective Communication

•Verbal and Written Proficiency

• Interpersonal Skills

•Team Player

•Confident in Own Ability

Resource Selection


PARTNER SELECTION

•Contract

•Collaborative Approach

•Avoid the “Winner’s Curse”

•Exit Strategy

•SLA

•Clearly Defines

•Expectations

•Responsibility

•Accountability

Legal


COMMON PROBLEMS

• Lack of Communication Between PM and Offshore Team

• Poor Planning

• Communication Protocol

• Time Zone Differences

• Communication Infrastructure in Offshore Country

• Relationship Building

• Executive, Managerial and Operational Levels

Poor

Communication


COMMON PROBLEMS

•One Experienced Resource Managing Multiple Inexperienced Resources

•Resource Inability to Make Informed Decisions

•Lack of Business Understanding

Inexperienced Resources


COMMON PROBLEMS

• Poor Team Management

• Lack of Structure

• Inefficient Task Tracking

• No Single Point of Contact

• No Mentoring

• No Empowerment

• SLA Not Being Enforced

Lack of Accountability


COMMON PROBLEMS

•No Understanding of Your Corporate Culture and Environment

•Limited Exposure to US Culture, Customs, and Work Environment

Onshore Experience


COMMON PROBLEMS

• Offshoring is Not a Quick Fix or Short-term Option

• Significant Financial Savings

• Savings are Better Reflected the Year Following the Transition Offshore

• Speed of Development

• Time to Market

Unrealistic Expectations


RISKS

•Scope Creep

•Cost Reduction Expectations

•Data Security

•Loss of Business Knowledge

•Failure to Deliver

•Government Oversight and Regulation

•Culture

•Turnover of Key Personnel

•Both Offshore and Onshore

•Knowledge Transfer

•Onshore Productivity Decline as Offshore Team Gets up to Speed

Risks


OFFSHORE MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

Overview

Governance

Management

Technical

Communication



•Purpose

•Multi-Layered

•Governance

•Management

•Technical

•Communication

•Developed by K. Mohan Babu

•Authored Offshoring IT Services

Overview



•Requires Executive Involvement from both Organizations

•Focus Areas

•Offshore Development Strategy

•Defining the Working Model

•Articulating, Measuring, and Monitoring the SLA

•Stakeholder Management

•Dispute Resolution

Governance

Layer



• Emphasis on Project and Program Management

• Leverage Body of Knowledge

• PMBOK

• General Management Knowledge

• Organizational Tools and Practices

• Project Planning and Tracking

• Contract Management

• Technical Tools and Templates

• Quality Assurance

• Experience and Knowledge

• Mentoring

• Best Practices

• Globalization and Cultural Awareness

Management Layer



•Focus on Execution

•Documentation, Development, Quality and Delivery

•Defines Key Roles and Responsibilities

•Onshore and Offshore

•Drives Coordination and Communication at the Technical Level

•Synchronizes the Efforts of Technical Resources

Technical Layer



• Key to Project Success

• Focus Areas

• Communication Protocols

• Communication Infrastructure

• Email and IM

• Skype

• Face-to-Face Meetings

• Optimizing Time Differences

• Big Challenge

• Schedule Meetings at Overlapping Times

Communication Layer


BREAK

•Please be Back in 15 Minutes

Break


MANAGING AN OFFSHORE TEAM

Communication

People Management

Cultural Differences

Project Management Methodology



•Language

•Low Context vs. High Context Languages

•Concepts of Time

•Monochronic

•Task Focused

•Polychronic

•Focused on Relationships and Human Interaction

•Personal Space

•Use of Language

•Body Language and Hand Gestures

Communication



•Time Zone Differences

•Communication Protocols

•Communication Tools

•Email

• Instant Messaging

•Conference Calls

•Skype

Communication



•Bi-Directional

•Clear, Concise Communication

•Reduce Ambiguity

•Verify Understanding

•Consistent Follow Up

•Be Responsive

•Opportunity to Teach Offshore Team about US Culture and Customs

Communication



•Morale

•Develop Esprit de Corps

•Emphasize Working Towards a Common Objective

•Be Consistent

•Consider Cultural Influences

People Management



•Project Manager Needs to Understand Offshore Culture

•History

•Public Holidays

•Religious Practices and Holidays

•Sports and Recreation




•UC Berkeley Geography Professor Michael Watts on Cultural Differences

•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23Lw0r2K3oQ


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23Lw0r2K3oQ



•PMBOK vs. Agile

•Cultural Differences May Favor One Method

•Pick and Choose What Works For Your Unique Requirements and Environment

Project Management Methodology


CASE STUDY

•Differences Between Offshoring IT Projects to Colombia Compared to Other Countries

Case Study


Q&A

Your Questions


ABOUT ALVAND SOLUTIONS

© 2010 Alvand Solutions, LLC. All rights reserved. All product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies. Data

contained in this document serves informational purposes only. These materials are subject to change without notice. These materials are provided by

Alvand Solutions and its affiliated companies for informational purposes only, without representation or warranty of any kind, and Alvand Solutions

shall not be liable for errors or omissions with respect to the materials. The only warranties for Alvand Solutions products and services are those that

are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services, if any. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting

an additional warranty.

At Alvand Solutions our goal is to become a trusted partner to our clients by

providing world class technology solutions and professional services. We strive

to deliver significant value to organizations through the innovative

implementation and support of IT solutions. Our Management of Offshore

Development Projects, Enterprise Data Protection, and Application

Development Services offerings will help secure your return on investment.

To learn more visit us at http://www.alvandsolutions.com

http://www.alvandsolutions.com/

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