Engagement Models​
Standard and Tailored Engagement Models to suit every Need.
An Engagement Model is nothing more than the set of guidelines or a framework that defined how you and we are going to be engaged so that you derive the best value out of our services for the contracted period. It’s a 2-way agreement defining the Responsibilities, Commitments, and Obligations so that we can optimally structure our interactions and working with you during the course of the engagement.
CodeEpsilon offers a variety of Standard and Custom-Tailored Engagement Models to give you the most convenient way to engage with us for your requirements – be it an idea to be conceptualized, expert advice or consulting, or solution development. You can choose an existing model, or we can offer a complete custom built which aligns to your business and monetary goals.
Our Approach To The Engagement
Choosing an appropriate engagement model sets you on the path to sustained success.
We are flexible and adaptable to the specific needs of our customers, regardless of the engagement model that is chosen. By offering a range of engagement models and being open to customizing them to meet your unique needs, we aim to provide the highest level of service possible. Regardless of the engagement model chosen, we at CodeEpsilon our sole objective of the engagement still remains to deliver a high-quality software in time.
There are indeed many factors to consider when choosing a Software Engagement Model. Some of the key factors that we recommend you to be considered include:
- Scope: Is it Well Defined or Variable in Definition
- Stage: Is it at Ideation stage or onset of development or in between development stage
- Timeline: If time-to-market is a tight deadline or incremental deadline
- Budget: Do you need flexible model in terms of cost, or a fixed price one?
- Risk: The level of risk involved.
- Communication: Different models have different communication models.
- Skills: Do you need specific niche skillset or not?
- Involvement: In what capacity you would like to be involved.
By considering these and other factors, we can choose an engagement model that is most suitable for your specific needs and goals, and that allows us to deliver high-quality software solutions.
Depending on the factors like scope, duration, workforce size, time to market, control & risk factors involved and responsibility ownerships, some standard engagement models are available. Each model is best suited for different types of needs and engagements.
Need help is defining the best model suited to your needs,
The Engagement Models We Offer
Standard engagement models are pre-defined standard time-tested approaches that are commonly used in the industry. Custom tailored engagement models, on the other hand, are customized approaches that are specifically designed to meet your unique needs. These models are often used when a standard engagement model does not adequately address your needs or when you have specific requirements that cannot be met with a standard model.
Each model has its pros and cons and is only effective in certain scenarios. Before deciding on an engagement model, we recommend that you consider the specifics of your project and business needs. If you have any doubts, you can get advice from our specialists, who will help you choose the most profitable engagement model.
Following are some of the most popular engagement models in the IT industry:
Fixed Bid
In this model, the development process is built according to the estimated cost and time based on the project details provided by the customer. All payments under this model are made in a fixed phase. Project specifications are frozen, budgets are set, and deadlines are set. If you don’t have a project specification, we recommend starting with phase 0 (the discovery phase) – the initial phase (usually one to three weeks) where the supplier manager works with your product manager to create the specification and finally delivers it to you at a fixed price.
- Effective for projects with clear, stable, and regulated requirements.
- Project Cost, Plan, and delivery Milestones are agreed upon before development is started.
- Payments are based on delivery milestones.
- Alterations or modifications to scope are estimated and billed separately.
When Should It Be Used?
Ideal for small or urgent projects. Corporate quotes work perfectly when the project specifications are well-defined and unlikely to change.
Benefits & Risks
- The model is rigid in terms of scope and specifications.
- Budget and Profitability are very much predictable upfront.
- Gaps in Scope Definitions directly impact Cost and timeline.
Time and Materials Contract
It is the ideal model for a healthy customer-seller relationship through continuous communication. This is a flexible model that allows changes to project specifications at any time. If you are not clear about the scope and characteristics of the project, this is the right model. Both the customer and the service provider agree on the timing of the allocated resources and rates.
- Best suited for projects where change is expected or where there are no clear requirements & documentation; what is known is the end goal or product definition.
- This model would be ideal for game development, IoT, and AI software projects where the final requirements are often unstable.
- Development fees are based on direct labor hours at a pre-negotiated hourly rate.
- Works efficiently when the client needs some part of the project to be outsourced at the right time.
When Should It Be Used?
In a T& M contract, the customer must be able to validate the hours required for the job and negotiate a lower hourly rate to reduce the overall cost of software development.
Benefits & Risks
- Flexible model in terms of scope and specifications.
- Sprint-based agile execution gives more granular control.
- Transparency of efforts and costs.
- No recruitment hassle, ability to quickly scale up the team.
- Customer involvement is on a higher level
Dedicated Team
The dedicated Team model is largely similar to Time and Material Model with the major difference being that the team is dedicatedly put on a project for a fixed period which can be months or years. These are usually long-term engagements.
- Ideal for Product Development or for projects which involve research and experiments.
- Ideal for projects where frequent change is expected or where knowledge retention is very important.
- Software development fees are based on monthly billable hours at a pre-negotiated hourly rate and duration for which the team is engaged
- Work efficiently when the client wants more granular control and wants to avoid the process of change request every now and then
Benefits & Risks
- Flexible model in terms of scope and specifications.
- Sprint-based agile execution gives more granular control.
- Transparency of efforts and costs.
- No recruitment hassle, ability to quickly scale up the team.
- 100% dedicated and customer-focused team.
- Customer involvement is on a higher level.
Outstaffing
- Works perfectly for complex long-term projects
- Full control over the development process;
- Outstaffing models aid in significant cost savings on social benefits as well as infrastructure, etc.
- Secure, quick yet easy access to the skills your project needs.
When Should It Be Used?
In this software development model, specialists with specific skills and experience are hired to expand the existing internal team when additional personnel is required. Best suited in creating an environment of Co-Innovation and Co-ownership with Extended Involvement and Participation.
Benefits & Risks
- Engage a highly experienced workforce at an affordable price.
- No recruitment hassle, ability to quickly scale up the team.
- Transparency of efforts and costs.
- 100% dedicated and customer-focused team.
- Customer involvement is on a higher level.
- Language, culture, and time zone differences pose challenges.
Offshore Development Center (ODC)
An offshore development center (ODC) is a facility or team of developers located in a different country than yours. We as your ODC Partner can setup and maintain the center on your behalf. We understand the dynamics of this part of the world and are best suited to handle the rules, regulations, legal formulations on your behalf without you need to get into those hassles.
To ensure the success of an ODC, it is important to have clear communication and project management processes in place, as well as a strong relationship between teams. It is also important to carefully consider the costs and benefits of working with an ODC, as well as any potential risks, before deciding to use this model.
When Should It Be Used?
ODCs can be a useful way for you to scale your development efforts or to access specialized expertise that may not be available at your location. OR when the locally available skillset is extremely expensive. This model also works when the required skill set is available in ample and scaling the team up and down can be done as needed.
Benefits & Risks
- Lower cost advantage
- Availability of a larger Pool of skilled Talent
- Cultural Differences
- Time zone differences
- Communication barriers
- Difference in Laws of land
Managed Services (MSPs)
Managed services refer to the practice of outsourcing the management and maintenance of certain IT systems and processes to a third-party provider. CodeEpsilon, as Managed services provider (MSPs) offers a range of services, including managing and maintaining IT infrastructure, providing technical support and troubleshooting, and monitoring and managing security systems.
When Should It Be Used?
There are several situations in which it may make sense to use Managed Services. Some common scenarios include:
- Lack of in-house expertise
- Limited resources
- Cost savings
- Increased efficiency
- Scalability
Overall, Managed Services can be a valuable tool when you need to outsource the management and maintenance of certain IT systems and processes.
Benefits & Risks
- Cost savings: Outsourcing the management and maintenance of certain IT systems can save cost of hiring and training in-house staff.
- Increased efficiency: Managed services providers are experts and can often provide more efficient and effective management and maintenance of IT systems.
- Increased security: MSPs often have specialized expertise in security and can provide more comprehensive monitoring and management of an organization’s security systems.
- Scalability: Managed services can be scaled up or down as needed easily to meet changing business needs.
- Dependence on the provider could be a long-term risk
- Loss of control in case of breakdown in communication.
- Security risks related to sensitive information
Let's Dive Deep To Explore Our Workflow
After deciding on the type of software development contract, it’s time to decide which type of workflow is best suited. Developers of CodeEpsilon can implement any type of workflow requested by customers. We can split the traditional framework and take a hybrid approach, using the most relevant elements of Agile, Scrum, and the “old trusted” waterfall.
Agile
Agile development methods are more effective when the end goal of the project is not defined and the customer wants the development team to respond quickly and efficiently to changing requirements.
- Emphasis on experimental software development and agile design
- Team-oriented and collaborative environment
- This means evolutionary development and adaptability
Waterfall
Waterfall software development is ideal for static projects when customer requirements are defined and changes are unlikely to occur during the development process.
- It is especially suitable for small projects where the requirements are clearly defined
- Reliable budget and time estimates
- No overlap because all tasks are sequential
Scrum
For managing complex software development in fixed-length iterations, the Scrum approach is probably best suited. The development process is divided into sprints and the team interacts with the customer after the sprint is complete.
- Ideal for developing Swing projects
- Tests are carried out during the development
- Expect changes along the way
Our diverse industry experience combined with a team of experts empowers us to effectively equip your business with proven solutions. Our engagement model is designed to fit the size and scope of your operation. Our suite of best-of-breed engagement models combines industry best practices and the latest technology to support your business goals. It not only addresses cost savings but also ensures a better quality of service along with business continuity plans. Our world-class project management skills and quality standards ensure you receive a software solution that will give your business a whole new competitive edge.
