In this episode of Product Driven, Matt Watson discusses the differences between outsourcing projects and building dedicated teams, particularly in the context of software development. He explores the pros and cons of both approaches, emphasizing the importance of understanding when to use project-based work versus staff augmentation.

Matt shares insights from his extensive experience in the tech industry, highlighting the benefits of hiring global talent and the challenges of managing remote teams. He advocates for staff augmentation as a more effective strategy for companies looking to build long-term, dedicated teams that integrate seamlessly into their business processes.

Takeaways

Outsourcing can be a cost-effective way to access global talent.

Project-based work is suitable for short-term, defined tasks.

Staff augmentation allows for building a dedicated team that works directly for you.

Quality of talent is crucial in software development.

Effective communication skills are essential for remote developers.

Having a fractional CTO can enhance project success.

Long-term partnerships with development agencies can lead to better outcomes.

Understanding the local culture is important when hiring globally.

Project-based developers may not always be the best fit for long-term needs.

Agencies can provide better resources for employee growth and retention.

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This episode is sponsored by Full Scale:

https://fullscale.io/

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Chapters

00:00 Outsourcing vs. Dedicated Teams

08:07 Understanding Staff Augmentation

18:05 Benefits of Working with a Development Agency