Staff augmentation is the process of supplementing an organization's workforce with additional staff, usually temporarily. It can be used to address specific skills shortages within the organization or to meet spikes in demand for certain services.
A staff augmentation model is an excellent tool that helps organizations minimize operational costs while improving productivity. If you are a first-time user of an augmented staff, you should be familiar with its uses, benefits, and advantages. We simplified the concept of staff enhancement service. And have also analyzed the impact on your business operations.
How to choose the right staff enhancement model?
Choosing the right staff augmentation model is a critical success factor for any business. It is important to understand the different types of models available and the benefits and drawbacks of each.
The most important factors to consider when choosing a staff augmentation model are project scope, timelines, size, and complexity of the project. The company resource and your organization's culture are also some factors that may affect your choice. When you consider these factors, you will be able to choose the best model for your project.
What are the types of staff enhancement models?
There are three types of staff enhancement models: on-demand, on-site, and offshore.
On-demand
The on-demand model is the most flexible and can be adapted to meet changing needs of clients. It is perfect for small projects with well-defined requirements. In this model, you only pay for the services you use. Therefore, there will be no contract or commitment compared to hiring full-time employees.
On-site
The on-site model is best suited for projects that require close collaboration between the augmenting team and the client organization. Hence, it is less flexible than the on-demand model but can be more cost-effective for larger projects. Teams need to work on-site at the client's premises for this type of model.
Offshore
The offshore model is best suited for organizations that need to supplement their workforce with developers or designers who have specific skills and expertise. In this model, the augmented staff is based in a different country from the client organization. This can be a cheaper option for large projects with well-defined requirements.
What are the benefits of using staff augmentation services?
There are many benefits to using staff augmentation services, including:
Reduced operational costs
By using staff augmentation services, you can reduce your operational costs. Because you only pay for the services you use. There is no contract or commitment and you can terminate the service of the personnel anytime you want.
Improved productivity
Staff augmentation can improve productiveness by providing access to engineers who can get the job done quickly and efficiently. You won't need to provide training for the augmented staff which lessens the time of implementation and the cost of the campaign.
Increased flexibility
Staff augmentation services are flexible solutions that can be adapted to meet changing needs. Because of its flexibility, you can even terminate the service of the augmented employee when you don't need him anymore.
Improved quality
Staff augmentation can help improve the quality of your products and services by providing access to engineers or developers with a specific talent who you did not have access to before in your business.
What are the disadvantages of using staff augmentation?
There are some disadvantages to using staff augmentation, including:
Less control
When you use staff augmentation services, you have less control over the workers. This is because they are not working full time as regular staffs of your company. Because of the lack of contract, workers can leave anytime they want which can disrupt your project.
Dependency
Your organization can become dependent on the augmented staff. Because they have the skill sets and expertise that your organization lacks. If they leave, it can be difficult to find a replacement with the same skill sets and knowledge.
The tendency of miscommunication between staff
There is a tendency for miscommunication between the augmented staff and the regular staff. Because the augmented staff is not working full time in your organization. And they are not familiar with the culture and values of your organization. The augmented staff does not work on site and company strategy may not be communicated properly. Therefore, a lack of communication may also happen.
Increased costs
Staff augmentation can be more expensive. Other staffing options, such as hiring full-time employees may be cheaper. Skilled workers may charge more than what you pay your regular employees.
Despite the disadvantages, staff augmentation is a popular staffing option. It can be a cost-effective way to improve productivity and provide quality assurance to your products and services.
What are the steps involved in setting up a staff augmentation project?
There are five steps involved in setting up a staff augmentation project:
1. Define the scope of the project. This includes identifying the objectives, goals, and deliverables.
2. Choose the right staff augmentation model. There are three types of models: on-demand, on-site, and offshore.
3. Find a reputable staff augmentation service provider. There are many providers to choose from. So do your research and read reviews before selecting one. Design Match is an example of a recruitment agency. It matches companies with the best provider for your project. And Design Match also provides support just in case the augmented talent hired did not work out.
4. Set up the project. This includes defining the roles and responsibilities of the staff, setting up communication channels, and creating a schedule.
5. Negotiate the terms of the agreement. This includes the price, duration, and scope of the project. Be sure to get everything in writing.
What is IT Staff Augmentation? How does it differ from project outsourcing?
When organizations seek outside help in completing important IT tasks like software development, they often consider two primary delivery models. These models are IT staff augmentation and project outsourcing. IT staff augmentation is a type of outsourcing model that uses temporary skilled developers to fill short-term IT job positions within the company. Meanwhile, project outsourcing has certain similarities but also some major differences. The biggest difference is that with tech staff augmentation, you are investing in technical resources while still maintaining control over your team. With outsourcing, you are purchasing a prearranged, specific outcome. And sharing the risks involved with the outsourcing vendor.
IT staff augmentation use cases
It can be very expensive to hire a house team. With IT staffing upgrades, you can hire remote developers or engineers with varying skills and specialized tasks. Aside from that, IT recruiter services also reduce expenses for companies. And help in minimizing development delays. IT staff augmentation services are used in the following cases:
- The high-level management wants to reduce the time-to-market of the product.
- The company has a limited internal development team and wants to supplement it with external specialists.
- The managers want to quickly solve specific technical problems that require special tech solutions.
- If the high-level management needs to quickly put together a team of specialists with the required tech expertise and talent
How does Staff Augmentation work?
Staff augmentation is a cooperation model where a company expands its in-house staff by temporarily hiring one or several outsourcing IT developers or web designers usually through an agency. Augmented engineers and designers become parts of an in-house team. And cooperate with the company's managers for a short time or until the project is finished. Global agencies like Design Match connect you to talented designers from around the world to help you accomplish related tasks your house team would not be able to do.
Staff augmentation vs Dedicated Team – a comparison
Dedicated teams are more suitable for long-term projects where you need to have a fully functioning development team of developers and engineers from the start. A dedicated team is like an extension of your house team. The main advantage of this model is that it’s possible to scale up or down the size of the team according to the project's needs.
Staff augmentation services are more suitable for short-term projects. And it will also help you when you need to supplement your internal staff with external developers or engineers. The main advantage of this model is that it’s possible to quickly put together a team of specialists with the required skills and knowledge at a lesser cost.
Both models have their advantages and disadvantages. It’s important to evaluate your project's needs to decide which is more suitable.
Advantages and disadvantages of staff augmentation vs dedicated team
There are certain advantages and disadvantages of staff augmentation that you should take into account when choosing this model for your project. One advantage of staff augmentation is that you only pay for the resources you use. You don’t need to worry about paying for extra staff that you may not need in the future.
Another advantage is that it’s possible to quickly put together a team of specialists with the required skills and knowledge. This is especially helpful if you need to supplement your in-house staff with external developers, designers or engineers. The third advantage of using staff augmentation is the cost-effectiveness of this system. It’s often cheaper to use staff augmentation services than to hire a dedicated team.
However, there are also certain disadvantages of staff augmentation that you should take into account. One disadvantage is that you don’t have full control over the team. And you may not be able to build a long-term relationship with the team.
Another disadvantage is that it can be difficult to find the right balance between the number of in-house staff and external developers, designers or engineers. And finally, staff augmentation may not be suitable for all projects. If you need to have a fully functioning development team from the start, then you should consider using a dedicated team instead.
Tips for successful staff augmentation
1. Define the project's objectives and requirements
2. Find a recruiting agency that specializes in your industry
3. Make sure to interview the candidates and check for related skills
4. Define the roles and responsibilities of each employee
5. Set up clear communication channels
6. Have regular check-ins with the provider
7. Monitor the progress of the project and give feedback
8. Secure buy-in from all stakeholders
9. Be prepared for the project to take longer than expected
10. Create a strategy for a contingency plan
Staff augmentation vs consulting in software development
The main difference is that with staff augmentation, companies bring in additional staff to supplement the existing software development team. With consulting, the company brings in software experts to advise and guide the company on a particular issue and provide a solution. Companies often use staff augmentation for temporary projects. Meanwhile, companies use consulting for long-term strategic planning. Additionally, there is also a difference in costs, with staff augmentation being less expensive than consulting.
Staff augmentation vs managed services in software development
The main difference is that with staff augmentation, companies bring in additional staff to augment the existing software development team. And with managed services, companies outsource the management of a particular function or process to an external vendor. Aside from that, staff augmentation is usually used for temporary projects while managed services are often used for long-term outsourcing arrangements. Additionally, there is also a difference in cost, with staff augmentation being less expensive than managed services.
Staff Augmentation for the Design Process
If you need help with the design process, staff augmentation is a great way to get access to the talent and the resource you need. You will be able to quickly put together a team of designers with the required skill and knowledge. Since you’re working with a recruitment agency, the project might take longer to complete. However, you will be able to reduce the time-to-market of your product. And provide a solution to your staffing problems.
You can contact Design Match to help you with the recruitment of designers to help your internal teams with your design process. They have a pool of designers who can help you create minimum viable products for your products. Or if you need help creating a user flow diagram, Design Match is the agency you need to approach.
Benefits of Outsourcing your design work
There are many benefits of outsourcing your design work. One of them is the time you save. When you outsource your design work, it will save you time. You won’t have to worry about the recruitment process or managing the designers. The agency will take care of all of that for you. All you need to do is provide them with a brief and they will be able to match you with the right designer.
Another benefit of outsourcing is that you get access to a pool of talent. When you work with an agency, you will have access to a pool of designers. This means that you will be able to find the right designer for your project.
Finally, when you outsource your design work, it will save you the time and money needed for the training of new employees. Your managers can focus on growing the business without worrying about the nitty-gritty of the design process.
Where do I hire software designers to augment my current team?
There are many places where you can find software designers to augment your current team. You can use online job boards, contact software development agencies, or use a freelancer platform. Or you can contact Design Match to match your company up with qualified software designers to provide you with solutions to your software design problems.
Design Match is a global recruiting company that can help you with the hiring process. It has an excellent communication channel to support you. In case the augmented employee is not a good fit for your office, they can provide a replacement as soon as possible. Design Match has a resource pool of designers with the best talent in the industry that your business needs. All you need to do is contact them for a replacement and they can give you a new staff at no additional cost. Therefore, hiring has never been so easy with Design Match!