| Requirements Writing: | | | | it cannot be done in person, the next best |
| All technical projects begin with a set of | | | | alternative is to have a very short cycle of |
| requirements. Basically, web design requirements | | | | collaboration, where the Project Manager or web |
| are the objectives that the project must meet. | | | | designer/developer asks questions and you |
| When you begin your web design project, you will | | | | respond immediately. There is momentum to the |
| most likely be speaking with some type of | | | | discussion, followed by immediate action. When |
| Project Manager. That person will ask questions | | | | offshoring your web design project, you introduce |
| about your project. They are not trying to work | | | | a time delay. That delay can break all the |
| with you to come up with a business solution, | | | | momentum of the project. All of the stop and go |
| they do not wish to explore your business | | | | can lead to 20 different broken threads or lists |
| problems. They expect you to lay out the | | | | going back and forth and much confusion. Quick |
| requirements and tell them exactly what you | | | | response time is imperative to project success. If |
| want. The difficulty here is that technical | | | | there is a 24-48 hour delay in communication, it |
| requirements require a certain level of technical | | | | can lead to a delay in project completion as well |
| expertise. Most laypeople don't have the | | | | as an increase in the budget, and the quality of |
| experience to properly communicate technical | | | | the project will suffer. Plan for your project to |
| requirements to a technical person. | | | | take extra time. Start out with the assumption |
| Thoroughly think through what you want to | | | | that the project will not be ready on time, and |
| accomplish with your web design project. An | | | | that you will need extra time to communicate |
| offshore company won't act as a consultant and | | | | back and forth to get it done properly. There are |
| make suggestions. They will only give what you | | | | definite risks when working with an offshore web |
| specifically ask for and nothing else. So you will | | | | designer/developer.*It will mean more work for |
| need to do your own research, thoroughly think | | | | you: |
| through your project and write out what you | | | | *You will need to find the best business solution - |
| want your project to accomplish. | | | | An offshore designer/developer will not act as a |
| Language Barriers: | | | | consultant. |
| The second problem that can arise in offshoring a | | | | *You will need to do your own research and |
| web design project, is the language barrier. If you | | | | come up with the best business solution yourself. |
| are able to come up with your own your web | | | | *You will need to write your own web design |
| design requirements, the next challenge is dealing | | | | requirements - You will need to plan your web |
| with a web design project manager for whom | | | | design project thoroughly and communicate your |
| English is a second language. Even if your Project | | | | plans in detail. An offshore designer/developer will |
| Manager seems to be doing a good job, there are | | | | only give you what you specifically ask for. |
| still many layers below him or her to which your | | | | It will require more of your time: |
| project will be passed. Those people have even | | | | *You will need to plan additional time to ensure |
| less understanding of the English language than | | | | that your project is done correctly. Ongoing |
| your Project Manager does. In fact, your project | | | | communication as well as project completion will |
| will probably be passed off 2 or 3 more times to | | | | be delayed due to the time differences and |
| various people in various departments. With all | | | | language barriers. |
| that handing off and the communication issues, | | | | The quality of your project can suffer: |
| the potential for problems abound. You could end | | | | *Communication and cultural differences - Your |
| up spending countless hours of your own time | | | | designer may not understand your product or |
| doing quality assurance and still not really know | | | | service the way you assume they do. For |
| what you're going to end up with. | | | | example, if they don't have private health |
| When considering who to go with, think about | | | | insurance in their country, can they build a quality |
| weather or not the person you're talking to, really | | | | website that will help you sell insurance? |
| understands you. If you're having trouble | | | | You don't have any recourse if you are not |
| communicating with the web design project | | | | happy with the results: |
| manager, it's only going to get worse at the next | | | | *American laws won't protect you if you are |
| level. | | | | unhappy with your website. If you are going to |
| Project collaboration: | | | | spend over $1,000.00 on your web design |
| A design/development project requires a great | | | | project, then you may not want to risk going |
| deal of collaboration and is best done in person. If | | | | with an offshore designer/developer. |