| |
|
INTRODUCTION
Jhelum Technologies service models span various engagement approaches. The flexibility in the engagement approach and the engagement process is adopted in order to service projects of various size, duration, complexity and continuity. Our clients can opt for a minimum risk approach suiting their needs. Services models that Jhelum Technologies offers are:
- Professional Services (Onsite Project Execution)
- Project Based (Offshore-Onsite Execution)
- Virtual Bench (Offshore Execution)
- Dedicated Offshore Development Center
- Build Own Operate Transfer (BOOT)
|
Jhelum Technologies has been very successful in delivering solutions on a continuous basis using their offshore development center and remote delivery mechanism. Jhelum Technologies approach begins with executing a single project to establish a seamless process of delivering projects and later evolve a dedicated center that can cater to execute multiple parallel projects and down the road become an extension of the client facility. Client’s that plan to open its captive offshore development center have an option of "Build Own Operate Transfer (BOOT)" delivery model. This delivery model gives out client the flexibility with risk mitigation to transit into its captive offshore development center.
KEY BENEFITS OF OFFSHORE OUTSOURCING
- Cost effectiveness
- Our model typically allows projects to be implemented far below on-site cost
- Scalability
- Allows the client to scale up or scale down the team size
- Time-to-market
- Our development bandwidth and mature processes allow us to jump-start new projects within days. The virtual team can leverage time zones to create a 24x7 development operation
- Focus
- The client can focus on its core business, while Jhelum Technologies will leverage its core competence of development and maintenance
|
GLOBAL DELIVERY MODEL
Strategic Outsourcing
This phase involves Requirements gathering, analysis, clarifications, review, specification and signoff.Outsourcing software development is increasingly being recognized as a key strategic tool, which creates a significant competitive advantage for Multinationals and Software Services Company in the US. Advantages in shifting work offshore include:
- Substantial growth in productivity due to increased throughput and a vastly lowered cost structure
- Risk sharing through lower Fixed Costs and Overheads for the Customer
- Access to external resources
- Retained Domain / Business knowledge
- Transfer of worries about development team ramp up and ramp down, high cost expansion of facilities, the problem of staff turnover, and the continual need to upgrade to newer technologies; to the offshore development partner
|
Jhelum Technologies follows Global Delivery Model (GDM) for executing a project, which has been evolved over years, through various engagements of working on outsourced offshore, onsite, and a combination of the both. GDM utilizes a mix of Onsite and offshore engagement, thus providing the customer the twin advantage of reliability and reduced cost.
The onsite-offshore engagement is strongly supported by a robust infrastructure and an remote delivery process to ensure that the customer is in control of the project at any given time. The final objective of the GDM is to provide an environment where in the center becomes an extension of the customers’ own operations.
The strategy also involves executing projects for a specific customer with a dedicated team of engineers providing software development, testing and maintenance services as the case may be, exclusively for that customer. The team evolves into an extension of the customer's software development arm, in India.
Jhelum Technologies has adopted certain best practices in order to make business success of the offshore development strategy.
- Effective Communication
The organizational structure in the model is devised to promote better communication. In this model, one manager each is identified at both the on-site and offshore locations. The manager on-site is referred to as the Account Manager and the manager offshore is the Project Manager. The Account Manager is deputed to be the key contact person for Jhelum Technologies with the client, and shoulders much of the responsibility for ensuring that client requirements, needs and feedback are effectively communicated to the team at the Development Center.
The Project Manager is in-charge of all developmental activities done offshore. One or more coordinators are identified both on-site and offshore, and are responsible for individual projects. The On-site Coordinator (stationed at the client’s site) interacts with the client and the offshore coordinator (stationed at Jhelum Technologies in India) for all project specific information. The Offshore Coordinator manages the development team comprising of Project Leader and Engineers, all dedicated to the clients project in India.
- Retained Domain / Business knowledge
The offshore development concept ensures that business knowledge / domain knowledge of a client’s system will be retained with the dedicated team. Attrition will not create problems, since the resources in a project team are buffered, and training is continuous and ongoing.
- Quality
The deployment of standard methodologies and standard productivity measurement techniques ensure that the required outputs are delivered within time and budget parameters. Further, the offshore development concept helps to evolve an efficient process management methodology, which is tailor made to suit the needs of the client.
Process analysis carried out on an ongoing basis paves the way for continuous process improvements, which are done based on product, process and project measures. The process can therefore be continuously modified to suit changing business needs and improve productivity / quality.
- Information Security
Jhelum Technologies respects the intellectual property of its client. We have information security policy and procedures, which assures that the privacy, integrity and security of information. Policies and procedures assure authorized access to project information. Physical access restricted areas for project teams ensure authenticated access to information. Network security with isolated networks ensures integrity and privacy of project data. Data communication with clients is managed over VPN's.
|
Team Structure
Initially, Jhelum Technologies would send consultants having Domain Expertise onsite to understand the client’s requirements, and to identify components that can be transitioned offshore. Then, Jhelum Technologies sets up a development team, with offshore and on-site staffing components depending upon the continuous needs of the client. As client’s needs grow, a dedicated team shall be set up for the client. A typical offshore project staffing would consist of the following resources.
The team shall render its services with a defined set of roles and responsibilities. The roles and responsibilities shall be defined at the start of the project. However the broad outline of the roles and responsibilities are
These are currently as envisaged by Jhelum Technologies, and could be reviewed/modified based on the kind of project and on mutual discussions with the client.
Process and Communication Link
Jhelum Technologies has developed a standard project management methodology to ensure that the following basic objectives are met
- All projects handled have clearly laid out parameters for deliverables, responsibilities, time frames and reporting
- All projects are monitored to conform to the parameters to prevent time and cost overruns
- Customers are periodically informed of the status of the project
- Corrective action wherever required is initiated well in time
|
Once a project is initiated, it proceeds with the following phases
The progress of the project is closely monitored, and the project plan establishes several monitoring points where detailed reviews are undertaken. Several status reports across all phases of software development are exchanged between offshore/ onsite teams and the client to assist in clearing issues.
Escalation procedures shall come into effect when a given problem is not solved within the time frame. The problem is then escalated to the next level of management with possible options, and a recommendation to the next level in the chain.
All practices & standards used by the client shall be implemented during project execution. Where not stated, Jhelum Technologies standards shall be followed. Alternately, a mutually agreed upon practice / standard can be implemented.
a) Feedback Mechanism
Apart from the review mechanisms followed in the Software Development Process by Jhelum Technologies alternate channels are also used for communication and feedback.
- Jhelum Technologies senior management visits client sites on a periodic basis with the objective of understanding client needs, identifying measures to handle them; and discuss future requirements and ramp-up plans.
- Jhelum Technologies also ensures that client personnel visit its development center and meet with the team. This provides a platform for an open session with the team working on the projects and leads to better mutual understanding.
- Annual Customer / Business Partner meets are organized, where customers share their experiences, and a forum is established for discussing client-centric issues.
|
b) Single Point of Contact
Jhelum Technologies shall identify a member of the offshore team who will act as the single point of contact between the client’s team onsite and the offshore team. This person will be responsible for all communication between the client and Jhelum Technologies. He will also be responsible for the day to day activities of the project and project team along with responsibilities of backup, security, IPR issues, communication on the Internet / dedicated link, and other associated functions.
c) Communication
A standard communication process is finalized at the start of the project. Standard templates will be used to communicate the progress of the project. Weekly status reports on various activities and time sheets reflecting the effort of each member of the team are sent to the client. The status reports will have the activities, planned vs actual for the current week along with the activities for the following week.
Regular communication via e-mail is insisted to ensure smooth flow of the project. Conference calls are held regularly to discuss status of the project and for issue resolution.
The offshore team and the onsite team / client will communicate via the following media:
d) Security
Jhelum Technologies believes every data relating to the client is critical for their operations. Hence adequate security is provided during the execution of the client project offshore. Security covers the following areas;
- System Access Security
- Backup
- Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
- Disaster Recovery Plan
- Physical Access Security
- Confidentiality and Non Disclosure Agreements
- Communication
|
|
|
