Magora

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We are currently in the process of building the community of practitioners that will be using the platform. Our global board of directors has said that the website is a great first step for what we want to accomplish. Before we just had a static website so this is a big improvement. The board thought it was the ideal foundation for us to build upon.

How did Magora perform from a project management standpoint?

Magora does a very good job of managing projects. We had a very tight timeframe from the beginning and they were able to deliver on that. Their communication was very prompt. After every call, they would send a summary of the feedback and action items. Magora is open to feedback and adapts accordingly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to take our ideas and concepts and figure out how they could be accomplished stood out. Magora consistently tried to understand our vision and translate it accordingly. They are able to take conceptual ideas and make them into something that really works. They would even map out specific examples. We were very pleased with the amount of detail they were able to extract from our concepts. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We did have to provide them feedback early on because they use very technical terms that we weren’t as familiar with. We were looking for a simpler breakdown of the budget and let them know. Within a few days, they were able to provide us with that. At first, we wanted more communication between teams but once we let them know, they provided us with more insight into their process. Overall, it was a great experience.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Spend more time on the front end describing your overall vision for the website during the data collection phase. Don’t rush into the actual development. Magora shines in their ability to help you think strategically about your business model. Take the time to get the most value out of the experience.

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

I think they are a really great team, but we had different ideas about the end product from the beginning. That was an obstacle we had to go through together.

They wanted us to communicate what we wanted so they could design it. But, that’s where the issue arose. Without providing wireframes, it was hard to communicate exactly what we had in mind. It was also hard to understand what they had in mind. 

We both understood the aim. But, the same function could be presented in very different ways. So, the solution ended up missing things we really wanted. Basically, we had to trade in stuff. 

We aren’t proud of the app that was collaboratively made with Magora because there are many things that we gave up. Without those features, the app doesn’t represent our original vision. It’s only half-way there.

We wanted to create a community, but people on the app can’t talk to each other. While users can see each other’s profiles, they can’t interact. That's a big problem for an online community.

People like our business idea, but our app doesn’t represent that idea. People are saying, “why is it missing that?” and “what do I do now?” So, now, we’re still working on the app.

Since it’s our first time working with a developer team, partly it was our misunderstanding. But, these are the consequences we have to face. However, they did perform well when technical bugs arose.

How did Magora perform from a project management standpoint?

The project manager did well — they are quite a coordinated team. They responded quickly to the questions that we asked. We used Zoom and Google Hangouts to collaborate.

They had a set timeframe and deliverables, but there was room for negotiation. This was great, but it was also a downside because we ended up having to give up features.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are quite organized. I was impressed that they were able to identify errors and bugs in the logic before we did. I think they were constantly thinking about it. This showed that they cared about the project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It’s understandable that things will change throughout the process. But, the biggest issue was that we didn't begin at the same starting point. 

I would hope in the future, they will make sure of the nitty-gritty details of what the other team wants. They should make sure they understand the idea and how it should be presented. The problems were our differences at the starting point, not in the middle.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?
 
Potential customers should present all the project details to Magora and ensure Magora understands. Then, Magora should say “no,” if they think there is another way to do things.

This conversation has to happen before anything else starts. The future customer should do their homework and know every deliverable before starting the project. A general idea may be implemented in a way that’s different from how the client originally imagined.

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We’ve shown it to a number of potential clients, and we’ve received positive feedback about its accessibility and usefulness. They delivered what we asked for and more. 

How did Magora perform from a project management standpoint?
We’ve had no problems communicating over the internet since the project managers and developers are based in Russia. They took a thorough approach to project management, meeting all our expectations. We have regular calls and can follow their progress on Trello.

What did you find most impressive about them?
They understood our goals, and we quickly felt they were a part of our team. They've taken ownership of their role in the project. 

Are there any areas they could improve?
We are really happy with their work so far. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?
If clients are clear and detailed in their communication with Magora, it will be a more productive partnership. We held initial education sessions, and it helped ensure a smooth process.