Most companies and startups struggle with having proper resources onboard and building a  team with the right balance of all skill sets. Outsourcing is often done to get the work done, but without synchronization and the right talent on board, the execution process can be quite challenging! This is where the Extended Team Model can accelerate an in-house team’s progress by complementing it and fostering efficiency.

Imagine having extra hands complementing your team’s skill set and augmenting the development team! That is precisely how an extended team model contributes to an onsite team. In this article, we will understand how an Extended Team Model is the perfect, modernized alternative to Outsourcing and has been befitting multiple software development companies!

What Is An Extended Team Model (ETM)?

Businesses are scaling higher these days with effective connections within the team and a network of professionals who can maximize a team’s productivity. The Extended Team Model is an alternative to Outsourcing, where the in-house team extends to a virtual team of professionals who group up with the core team to exercise the skill sets that are lacking in the core team.

If your company is rooting for growth on a larger scale on a long-term basis, then having an extended team model is your solution to scale higher. With an extended team model, there is more transparency and flexibility as the team members are in constant communication, working as one team with a fixed goal. Your focus also becomes the extended team’s focus, fostering highly effective collaboration between the in-house and extended team.

How is an Extended Team Model different from Outsourcing?

One might ask how an extended team model differs from outsourcing since the job gets done both ways. The answer is that the quality of the final delivery is always better when a team comes together and works in collaboration, which is the crux of the extended team model concept. In outsourcing, the company does not have the option to directly communicate with the developers or gain an insight into the workings; they simply get the code or product delivered.

The extended Team Model bridges this gap between the in-house and offshore outsourcing teams, making the execution process more efficient and collaborative.

Let’s look at the features of an Extended Team Model to understand better how it is a better alternative to Outsourcing and a more positive approach:

1. Complement the core team:

   An Extended Team Model is meant to complement the core team, not replace it. If your local talent pool lacks specific technical skillsets or business expertise, the extended team model steps in to bridge that gap. The core team works onsite, while the Extended Team Model might be operating offshore.

2. Sharing the same work culture

   An Extended Team is hired when a company wants to grow on a long-term basis and wishes to work with the extended team for future projects. This means that the extended and in-house teams can share the same focus, and the extended team will not get sidetracked by any other project. The Extended Team will receive the same objectives and training (depending on their expertise) and share the same work culture with the core team. This develops a strong team spirit and oneness between the inhouse and Extended teams, naturally improving the quality of the final product.

3. You have control over the project

   In outsourcing, the requirements are shared with the offshore team, and you don’t have a say in their day-to-day productivity or ways of working. In an Extended team Model, a single point of contact and authority overlooks the work for both the core and extended teams.

4. You have control over the project

   One of the significant aspects of hiring an extended team is that you have complete flexibility in adding people with new skill sets or reducing your team to the required professionals as you move to different stages of the delivery process. You can swap out developers who are no longer required for the project or grow your team headcount as you deem fit.

5. Working towards a common goal

   In an Extended Team Model, the responsibilities are shared equally between all team members (both onsite and offshore) depending on their skill set, and everyone is equally responsible for the success or failure of a project. This makes the entire team stay invested in the execution process and share a common goal of delivering a quality product.

6. Easy hiring process

   Once you provide your requirements to the Extended Team Provider, they perform an initial screening and provide professionals most suited for your project. You can have your own screening and interview process for them before making the final call regarding who you want in your Extended Team Model. Moreover, finding the right match for a missing skill set in your local talent pool can be costly and time-consuming. By hiring an Extended Team Model, you can access top techies and developers across the globe and narrow down on developers who are best suited for your project in a cost-friendly manner. Now, the most crucial aspect is understanding at what point you should consider hiring an Extended Team for your project. Read on to find out!