Outsourcing Agile

Software Development workshop


Objective: Prepare a team to outsource an application development project using Agile Software Development methods.

This workshop is intended for companies looking to outsource the development of a software application, and who would like to take advantage of the Agile Software Development methods.

There are many different motivations for looking at outsourcing, many different approaches and many different ways of managing the arrangement. However there are common questions, problems and solutions. The objective of this session is to prepare attendees for these issues.

Although not specifically concerned with offshore outsourcing many of the issues and questions which the workshop addresses are equally applicable to onshore and offshore outsourcing. This workshop is recommended as a first step prior to examining offshore options.

Who should attend?


Individuals concerned with selecting a supplier, defining the work and managing delivery. Typically these include:
  • Delivery Managers
  • Project Managers
  • Business Analysts
  • Product Managers
  • Software Architects
  • Others who may need to work with the supplier on the project
The workshop is normally conducted with at least four representatives from the client to create a useful level of discussion and shared understanding.

What will I learn?


At the end of this workshop attendees will have an understanding of the issues they face when outsourcing an Agile Software Development project. These issues include:
  • Agile delivery model and product life cycle
  • How to create clarity in work packages definitions
  • Outsource success criteria and motivation for outsourcing
  • Project and risk management across organizational boundaries
  • Creating a win-win Agile contract
Additional issues may be added by request.

Duration and Prerequisites


This course is first as a one-day interactive workshop with the option of a second day to allow issues to be examined in more detail and creation of an action plan.

It is assumed that attendees are familiar with the ideas and concepts of Agile software development. A half day Agile Software Development primer can be added to familiarise attendees with the concepts and methods of Agile Software Development. This primer may include details on specific Agile methods such as Scrum or Extreme Programming (XP) if requested.

Workshop leader


This workshop is led and facilitated by Allan Kelly. He is an experience software engineer and manager who has delivered many Agile and outsourced projects. Allan is the author of the book Changing Software Development: Learning to be Agile (2008), is PRINCE2 certified and holds a BSc (Hons) in computer science and an MBA (Distinction) in management.

Full seminar: 1 or 2 day
Attendance: 4 to 12 people

PDF version of this information.

For more information and to book this course please contact Software Strategy.