I live and work in Australia and I am considering obtaining the
assistance of off shore software development services.
Specifically I will be looking for help to develop a software
simulator. i.e a program to run on a PC which emulates a Real Time
Device through a com port.
I would like to obtain information on the options, advantages,
disadvantages and processes involved.

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Clarification of Question by martind-ga on 25 Jun 2004 22:11 PDT

Just to add
I would appreciate answers that are applicable to USA or Europe and
may be applicable to Australia.

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Clarification of Question by martind-ga on 25 Jun 2004 23:49 PDT

I just want to know how to go about getting software development
assistance from an overseas country which may offer cheaper labour
costs.
What are the steps involved ?
What are the benefits ?
etc

Hi! Thanks for the question.

I have found the following articles discussing the proper process you
must take before outsourcing your software development needs overseas.
It is better to read these ones in their entirety to get a better
grasp of the lessons.


?Tips and Techniques for Successful Software Development Outsourcing?
http://www.qualitylogic.com/newsletter/q3_02/sq_steps.html (Part 1)
http://www.qualitylogic.com/newsletter/q4_02/sq_steps.html (Part 2)
http://www.qualitylogic.com/newsletter/q1_03/sq_steps.html (Part 3)
http://www.qualitylogic.com/newsletter/q2_03/sq_steps.html (Part 4)

?Before You Conduct Offshore Outsourcing?
http://internet.about.com/library/aa_outsourcing1_081102.htm 

?Outsourcing A Project Overseas?
http://www.webpronews.com/it/itmanagement/wpn-18-20040206OutsourcingaProjectOverseas.html

?6 Tips to Evaluate Your Development Partner/Solution Provider?
http://www.indiawebdevelopers.com/articles/evaluate_your_developer.asp 

?Outsourcing Software Development Offshore?
http://www.4-developers.com/outsourcing_software_development_offshore.html 

?Selecting a provider: like finding a bride?
http://www.outsourcing-russia.com/kb/docs/outsourcing/o02101-18.html 

?Criteria for Making an Appropriate Outsourcing Selection: Insourcing,
Nearshore and Outsourcing?
http://oaot.com/downloads/about/library/whitepapers/Part%201%20Outsourcing%20Selection%20Criteria%20Insourcing,%20Nearshore%20and%20Offshore.pdf

?Geographic Criteria for Making an Appropriate Outsourcing Selection?
http://oaot.com/downloads/about/library/whitepapers/Part%202%20Outsourcing%20Selection%20Criteria%20Geographic%20Criteria.pdf

?OFFSHORE OUTSOURCING- VENDOR EVALUATION PROCESS?
http://www.machrotech.com/Offshore_Outsourcing/Vendor_Evaluation_Process.asp 

?OFFSHORE OUTSOURCING ISSUES- COUNTRY RELATED?
http://www.machrotech.com/Offshore_Outsourcing/Offshore_outsourcing_issues_country.asp

?OFFSHORE OUTSOURCING ISSUES - VENDOR RELATED?
http://www.machrotech.com/Offshore_Outsourcing/Offshore_outsourcing_issues_vendor.asp

?OFFSHORE OUTSOURCING - OTHER ISSUES?
http://www.machrotech.com/Offshore_Outsourcing/Offshore_outsourcing_otherissues.asp

?Choosing Your Outsource Service Provider?
http://www.webpronews.com/it/itmanagement/wpn-18-20040219ChoosingYourOutsourceServiceProvider.html


Our next links will show you how to prepare the paperwork that needs
to be done before you get your feet wet in the world of outsourcing.

?Preparing A Contract With An Outsource Service Provider?
http://www.webpronews.com/it/itmanagement/wpn-18-20031231PreparingaContractWithanOutsourceServiceProvider.html

?How Good Is Your Mutual Non Disclosure Agreement??
http://www.outsourcing-russia.com/kb/docs/legal/l02101-06.html 

?Crafting A Request For Proposal?
http://www.webpronews.com/it/itmanagement/wpn-18-20031230CraftingaRequestforProposal.html


--------------------------
Benefits of Offshoring:

- ?Access to an experienced team?
- ?Access to technological expertise?
- ?Reduce HR costs?
- ?Control Project Costs?
- ?Increase Project Management Capabilities?
- ?Improve efficiency of in-house staff allocation?
- ?Timely Project implementation and completion?
- ?Knowledge and Expertise Continuity?

?Software Outsourcing - Features and Benefits?
http://www.swagsys.com/articles/FeaturesAndBenefits.html 

- ?Core competence?
- ?Technology Catalyst?
- ?Business transition?
- ?Business Innovation?
- ?New Market?

?Software Development Outsourcing?
http://www.brickred.com/software_development_outsourcing.html 


-----------------------------
Disadvantages:

- ?Unproven on Large Scales?
- ?Work Permits?
- Stability of the Offshore Countries?

?Outsourcing Software Development to India?
http://www.4-developers.com/outsourcing_software_development_to_india.html 

- time zones away
- hidden cultural differences
- language difficulties
 
?Offshore Software Development?
http://comment.cio.com/comments/13703.html 

- ?Cost of Selecting a Vendor?
- ?Cost of Transition?
- ?Cost of Layoffs?
- ?Cultural Cost?
- Process Formulation Cost
- ?Cost of Managing an Offshore Contract?

?The Hidden Costs of Offshore Outsourcing?
http://www.cio.com/archive/090103/money.html

- ?If you need to have state-of-the-art IT solutions worked out and
innovations implemented with small losses, outsourcing may be the only
way out.?

- ?You will lose control over the project or at least over the part
that you have chosen to outsource.?

- ?Telephone conversations are bad enough, but email and communicating
via some instant messaging program online takes even more time. You'll
have to put up with an endless amount of emails to be sent and
received.?
 
?Outsourcing IT Development: Advantages and Disadvantages? (More
interesting advantages are available here)
http://it-news.webspacestation.com/articles/outsourcing.html?itnews 


Search terms used:                          
Offshore outsourcing "software development" process advantages
disadvantages pros cons
                 
I hope these links would help you in your research. Before rating this
answer, please ask for a clarification if you have a question or if
you would need further information.
                         
Thanks for visiting us.                         
                         
Regards,                         
Easterangel-ga                         
Google Answers Researcher

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Request for Answer Clarification by martind-ga on 26 Jun 2004 19:40 PDT

Thanks for all the info so far.
This is the first time I have used Google for this purpose and your
answers seem very thorough and look as if they meet my needs.
I would like to review them more thoroughly tomorrow - as it is Sunday
today here and I have some family commitments.
Is it ok to wait until tomorrow for formal clarification or comment ?.

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Clarification of Answer by easterangel-ga on 27 Jun 2004 00:40 PDT

Ok no problem.

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Request for Answer Clarification by martind-ga on 27 Jun 2004 20:31 PDT

Thanks for the the very thorough answer to my question.

Were you able to find anything specific about outsourcing from Australia. ?

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Clarification of Answer by easterangel-ga on 27 Jun 2004 21:55 PDT

Hi martind-ga!

I am really sorry but before I posted my answer, I really looked for
Australian based articles but cannot find anything substantial.

I hope you understand.

Thanks!

Thanks for a very thorough and useful answer to my question.
Presentation easy to follow.
Content has saved me a lot of time.
Thanks

Thanks for the kid words, the 5 stars and for the generous tip! :)