Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
Once a number of key functions were completed, I presented the platform to a number of testers who successfully self-navigated the system and provided useful feedback. They were impressed with what they experienced and positively endorsed the potential value of the MVP functionality for them and their business. They remain keen to be involved in the system's development and roll-out. This is a hugely positive result for the company and bodes well for attracting future investment.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
Their project management is exemplary. They rapidly map out the functions and user journey, task by task, then estimate the development time for each individual task and structure them into a series of agile development sprints that maximize functionality roll-out. We have access to their Jira system, allowing us to track progress and the time devoted to each task. They’ve also given us access to the platform on their test server so that we can explore its functionality.
Before working with The Masters, I’d never outsourced to a team in another country before, so I had some initial worries about communicating over such a distance and encountering cultural or language barriers. Fortunately, these concerns were quickly dispelled by the excellent quality of our engagement. So far, we’ve had zero issues with the distance, culture, or language.
The PM and I hold weekly Skype meetings to exchange feedback, clarify issues, make adjustments, or address questions. The PM is extremely responsive to any messages sent by any channel and, whenever necessary, additional Skype meetings are scheduled to discuss issues. The PM always listens attentively and responds with insight and clarity, suggesting alternative solutions that will reduce development time or simplify the process. No question or request is ever considered to be too troublesome or problematic.
As my background is not technology, I appreciate the PM's focus on the user journey and functionality rather than discussing the details of the backend architecture. However, the PM is also adept at translating technical challenges into lay terms when needed. After each Skype meeting, the PM follows up promptly with an email summary of the discussion, which includes the agreed action list incorporated into the upcoming sprint schedule.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
Their professionalism and effortless project management are impressive. They show an outstanding quality of thought and a deep understanding of our requirements. We also appreciate the speed and professionalism of their responses. They possess not just exemplary technical skills, but also the management skills to deliver results smoothly. The work is done with the courtesy, grace, and ease that distinguishes an expert—no task is too difficult.
I have commissioned eight websites from seven different vendors in the past—none of which came anywhere close to being as complex as this web application—and this is, by far, the smoothest collaboration I have had with a third-party partner to date.
Are there any areas for improvement?
The QA checks missed some issues.
The Masters' team generated quality code that helped increase the velocity of the overall development process. Despite some issues stemming from miscommunications and misunderstandings, their team provided consistent feedback and remained flexible in their work ethic.