Many SMBs rely on consultants to complement their in-house teams on software projects. Ensuring that consultants respect your internal developers is key to delivering a product that not only meets your expectations but is maintainable for the long term.
Your in-house developers are the curators and custodians of your product. They guide the technical direction and are responsible for long-term maintenance. It’s critical that they influence any work done by consultants to ensure maintainability and scalability.
If the internal team isn’t satisfied with the consultant’s work, they may feel compelled to redo it later, increasing costs. However, if they feel the work aligns with their standards, they will take pride in extending and maintaining it long after the consultant’s involvement ends.
The consultant’s work should fit seamlessly into your product’s broader roadmap. By respecting your internal team’s long-term vision, you can avoid implementing short-term solutions that may not scale or adapt well in the future.
Your in-house development team has likely established processes, coding standards, and methodologies to suit your business. No two teams work in the same way, even when adopting Agile practices. These processes have likely evolved from years of experience, and consultants should respect them to ensure harmony.
Consultants should take the time to understand the existing codebase, ask clarifying questions, and adapt to your team’s unique practices. Every company carries some level of technical debt, and consultants should be mindful of how your team manages it. Introducing new solutions without understanding the context could make that debt worse, creating additional burdens for your team.
Your in-house team is one of your company’s greatest assets. A cohesive and happy team is more productive and innovative. consultants should enhance this dynamic rather than undermine it, ensuring your internal team is left in a stronger position after the project is complete.
In addition to their technical role, strong in-house developers are the foundation for long-term success. To further support this, consultants must ensure smooth knowledge transfer.
A successful consultant will prioritise comprehensive documentation and knowledge transfer to empower your internal team to maintain and evolve the work. This reduces the risk of technical debt and ensures you’re not overly reliant on the consultant for future updates.
When the handover is done well, your team should feel confident in their understanding of the project and capable of making changes as needed. While you may choose to return to the same consultant for future modifications, the consultant’s work shouldn’t create dependency. Both you and the consultant benefit from avoiding a relationship based on necessity.
Consultants should maintain open and consistent communication with your internal team, providing regular updates and being receptive to feedback. Building a collaborative environment helps establish trust and prevents misalignment. Your team should feel comfortable reaching out to consultants for clarification or discussions.
Sometimes consultants are perceived as outsiders or even competitors. To mitigate this, they should focus on supporting your team’s needs and providing additional expertise without positioning themselves as replacements.
Effective collaboration and open dialogue between consultants and internal teams ensure the best outcomes for your product, fostering mutual respect and long-term success.
Consultants who respect your in-house team lay the groundwork for long-term project success. When selecting consultants, choose professionals who prioritise collaboration, respect your internal team, and have your product’s longevity in mind.