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Outsourcing - feel the pain

by phpguy
9 replies
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I know this thread has been posted a million times but I need someone to feel my pain :-).

Is it just me or is overseas outsourcing a big mess? I am a software engineer by trade, every time I use a company from somewhere outside the US I have a very difficult time getting concepts across even with screen shots and "big red" lines they don't seem to get it.

Come up with innovative solutions to problems? NOT, just come back and say "we cant do it" no options not even a few minutes of google...

Not to mention my server looks like someone puked on it after they say they are finished... Stray files and directories all over the place. Sure I can get in there an do it myself, but no way to scale that type of business. I already spend too much time coding with a 1 year old.

Anyone had any luck with specific warriors or firms? Ive heard the Philippines is less cultural issues. I guess some of the blame goes to me for not micromanaging every step, maybe that is what you have to do.
  • Profile picture of the author careybaird
    Yes it can be a big mess. It is not as easy as people make out.. but definitely worthwhile. Don't try to be too cheap and monitor their work regularly.

    I am a software developer and nobody lives up to my standards.. I have learned to look out for traits. Mainly it is making sure the person cares about your work. Try to get them to "buy in" to what your doing, convince them of long term work as your business expands, buy them little rewards.

    Software must always be scalable. If you get someone to build an application without planning it yourself and monitoring, you are asking for trouble. I have seen it too many times than I can remember... when I was freelancing I used to get requests all the time to work on projects that had been started by cheap outsources and have seen some horrific attempts at development.

    As in every area of life, put in the hard work.. if you love The Four Hour Work Week like me you will be tempted to think outsourcing is easy, but it is not. That doesn't mean that it isn't useful or in my opinion essential to modern business.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ace1337
    Outsourcing the simple stuff usually works great. The more complex stuff I wouldn't outsource.
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  • Profile picture of the author creationz
    I have been on both sides... have been outsourced to and have outsourced work to others. to be frank if parties concerned are professional u wont face any problem. so it really depends on the parties.

    i have got outsourced work and i make it a point to clean things up as much as possible. and of course if i dont know something i use google before going to the client and saying i cant do it.

    as an outsourcer, i have come across professional people and non professional also.

    if you want someone to follow a certain code (keep everything clean - get rid of unwanted files etc) it wont hurt to mention it i think. it has worked for me couple of times. but some people just wont do it even if you mention it...
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    With all the American's who are out of work and can't get even freelance because of the trend in overseas outsourcing of cheap labor, I don't think that a lot are going to be empathetic with your problem. If you can't get your work done sending it overseas, hire an unemployed American.
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    • Profile picture of the author Justin Says
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      With all the American's who are out of work and can't get even freelance because of the trend in overseas outsourcing of cheap labor, I don't think that a lot are going to be empathetic with your problem. If you can't get your work done sending it overseas, hire an unemployed American.
      I agree with what you say Sal

      But I just want to toss it out there.

      Hire someone that actually wants to do the work and do it well. Leave countries and locale out of the equation. If someone is willing to do a good job and willing to put forth the effort, pay them for it.

      Initiative goes a loooong way.
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Originally Posted by phpguy View Post

    I know this thread has been posted a million times but I need someone to feel my pain :-).

    Is it just me or is overseas outsourcing a big mess?
    YOU are halping to make it a mess!

    I am a software engineer by trade
    ****REEEEEALY?

    , every time I use a company from somewhere outside the US I have a very difficult time getting concepts across even with screen shots and "big red" lines they don't seem to get it.
    HOW CAN THEY!?!?!?!? You are doing it ALL WRONG!!!!

    Anyone had any luck with specific warriors or firms? Ive heard the Philippines is less cultural issues. I guess some of the blame goes to me for not micromanaging every step, maybe that is what you have to do.
    Micromanaging is a GREAT way to make it WORSE!
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  • Profile picture of the author Justin Says
    Honestly it just depends on the person whom you are outsourcing work to lol. You can't just blame everyone overseas because something isn't right.

    That's like paying 10 writers in the US to write something in English, but resulting in crap content (which honestly.. happens quite a bit here as well). That doesn't mean that every writer in the US is a bad writer, so you should blame whomever you are outsourcing too. Think of language barriers and be realistic. Other people might have different ways of looking at things and just don't care. That's there own personal views though, not an entire region

    Just my 2 cents.

    One of my great friends Stephen lives in the Phillipines and he's a great guy and easy to teach. But I've had many others that live right here in the United States that I can't teach anything too, even though there is no language barrier.

    It's about the individual people you deal with
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  • Profile picture of the author phpguy
    Yeah, I get what you are saying sal, to be honest it's cheaper in the long run to use local talent or just do it myself. Cheap is relative I guess.
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  • Profile picture of the author phpguy
    yeah, didn't mean to seem like I was railing on anyone. Just past two experiences have been horrible. I take the blame, and learn from my lessons.
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