Quote:
Originally Posted by DWB
Just be careful to make sure you're not spending all your time managing the outsourced people. It can be time consuming and counter productive if you get the wrong staff.
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This is also very very true. You need to do some level of research or vetting prior. I find this part to be one of the most frustrating things when it comes to running a business. By that I mean, project management, and babysitting people.
I will give you a quick story that I have learned over time with bitter experience...
You want to hire people who can effectively manage their own time, and your projects. Typically these people are going to cost a bit more. But just like my other post, money is not the only consideration, it's time. Here is an example.
HIRE DESIGNER/PROGRAMMER #1
He always asks a lot of questions before starting a project, he has a clear understanding of what you want, he bangs out the mock up in 1-2 days, you approve it, he delivers early, or within the commitment he provided you. Obviously he is worth the money, and saves you time in the end. Your projects stay on task, and you can get ROI much faster.
HIRE DESIGNER/PROGRAMMER #2
He is often times cheaper, does not ask a lot of questions, does not deliver a mock up. During the process he rarely communicates, and you have to chase him down for updates. He doesn't deliver a mock up for you to critique, and then thinks he understands 100% what you want, and will notify you he has started on the CSS/HTML coding. You do not see the work until the end, it's often wrong, and you have to redo it.
This ends up costing you a lot of time, frustration, annoyance, and most of all money. By the time you pay the overages because #2 did not ask enough questions to give you an accurate bid, commitment time frame, and alike. You typically would have paid the same, or less than hiring #1.
In the end, you want to find good people who do quality work, give you accurate time commitments, communicate along the way, and know how to manage both their time and projects. Obviously someone who is a business, versus some hobbyist clown. While I concede that cost is always a consideration, it should not be in your top three things you consider when hiring someone IMHO.
