IT staff augmentation is a staffing solution that supplements an in-house team with additional team members who offer software development services. This is done to help meet the demands of increasing workloads, new projects, and other business objectives.

As the demand for the outsourcing model of staff augmentation grows, organizations need effective management and leadership practices to ensure successful outcomes. By having an effective strategy, organizations can better manage the resources and finances associated with new employees and maximize the value of their investments.

What Is the Role of Leadership in Effective Staff Augmentation?

The role of leadership in effective staff augmentation is to provide direction, guidance, and support to the augmented team.

Leaders must:

• Ensure that the additional staff hired for a particular project through staff augmentation has the skills and experience required.
• Ensure that the augmented and local team is motivated.
• Define clear objectives and expectations for the staff augmentation process.
• Identify any potential risks associated with new personnel and develop plans to mitigate those staff augmentation risks.

Here at WillDom, we are convinced leaders set the tone for the work environment. 

They are responsible for ensuring the team works together and meets the organization’s goals. When leadership is lacking, team morale suffers, and the organization may be unable to meet its goals.

Key leadership qualities necessary for managing augmented teams

• Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings and perspectives of others is essential for managing augmented teams.
• Communication: Strong communication skills are necessary to efficiently manage an augmented team to ensure everyone is on the same page.
• Adaptability: To remain successful, project managers must adjust to the changing needs of the software development team.
• Collaboration: Leaders need to be able to foster collaboration and cooperation between team members, as well as between the team and other stakeholders.
• Organization: Augmented team leaders must be organized and efficient to ensure everything runs smoothly and nothing falls through the cracks.
• Problem-solving: Leaders need to identify problems and develop solutions quickly and effectively.
• Vision: Leaders of augmented teams need to have a clear vision for the team and communicate that vision effectively.
• Motivation: Leaders need to motivate and inspire their team members to get the best out of them.

We know that open, flexible, and supportive leadership can foster an environment of collaboration rather than competition among the members of an augmented team. This can create a sense of security and trust, increasing morale and fostering higher productivity.

How Can I Successfully Integrate Augmented Staff into My Team?

Integration is vital with staff augmentation because it helps ensure the new team members can quickly and successfully learn the processes and procedures. Additionally, it helps bridge any cultural and language barriers between the new personnel and the existing team.

Steps to effectively integrate augmented staff

1. Prepare and plan

Before you bring augmented staff on board, plan and prepare for their arrival. This includes getting the necessary paperwork, such as contracts, visa applications, and job descriptions.

2. Set expectations

Clearly outline your expectations for the augmented staff and provide them with a detailed job description. Additionally, discuss the company’s culture, goals, and vision.

3. Provide training

Provide training on the team’s processes and procedures. This will help the augmented staff to quickly and successfully integrate into the team.

4. Create a plan for communication

Establish a plan for communication between the augmented staff and the existing team members. This will ensure that everyone is on the same page and that all tasks are completed efficiently and on time.

5. Monitor progress

Monitor the progress of the augmented staff and provide feedback and guidance as needed. This will help ensure successful integration into the team.

How Can I Handle Communication With Augmented Staff?

It is essential to create clear expectations for each staff member and set up regular check-ins with each person. These check-ins can be done via email, phone, video conference, or any other method that works best for the staff.

Providing timely feedback is essential so staff can make adjustments quickly. We advise you to always stay organized and keep detailed records of conversations and progress.

Best practices for communication with augmented teams

• Create a collaborative culture: Encourage collaboration and communication between team members.
• Provide team-building activities: Give team members opportunities to get to know each other and build relationships.
• Celebrate successes: Recognize and celebrate team successes to keep morale high.
• Leverage technology: Utilize online platforms and messaging tools to communicate effectively with remote team members.

Tools and technologies that can aid communication

Video conferencing platforms (Zoom, Google Meet, etc.)

Video conferencing platforms allow teams to hold virtual meetings, communicate face-to-face, and share screens, helping them stay connected and productive.

Messaging applications (Slack, Telegram, etc.)

Messaging applications help teams communicate quickly and efficiently, allowing for real-time conversation and file sharing, assisting teams to stay connected and up-to-date.

Virtual whiteboard software (Miro, Stormboard, etc.)

Virtual whiteboard software allows teams to collaboratively brainstorm, share, and visualize ideas, helping them better communicate their ideas.

Online file storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.)

Online file storage allows teams to securely store, share, and access files from anywhere, helping them collaborate on projects and stay organized.

Project management software (Asana, Zoho Projects, etc.)

Project management software helps teams plan, organize, and track their projects.

How Can I Manage the Performance of Augmented Staff?

There are various strategies companies can use to manage the performance of augmented staff, and each of them can be tailored to fit a company’s specific needs. 

Here at WillDom, our top performing strategies are:

Setting clear expectations and goals for augmented staff

These goals should be measurable, achievable, and regularly reviewed to ensure they remain relevant and attainable.

Regular monitoring and feedback for augmented staff

Monitoring should be tailored to each individual, taking into account their strengths and weaknesses, and feedback should be regular to ensure everyone is aware of their progress.

Reward and recognition systems for augmented staff

Rewards can be monetary bonuses, prizes, or other forms of recognition, such as public acknowledgment or honorary awards.

How Can I Handle Training and Development for Augmented Staff?

Introducing augmented staff can present challenges, and the new staff must have the right training and development.

When introducing new staff through the staff augmentation model, you must provide them with the necessary training to ensure they can contribute to the team and help achieve desired outcomes.

Here’s how to do it:

The role of training in staff augmentation

With staff augmentation, training new staff is essential to ensure they can contribute to the team and help achieve the desired outcomes. Training should cover any new processes that the augmented staff will be required to perform and any safety procedures or other guidelines that must be followed.

How to effectively train augmented staff

Training should be tailored to the specific skills, knowledge, and experience the augmented staff needs to do the job. Depending on the role, this could include everything from basic skills training to more specialist skills training.

If the staff has no experience in the field, a more comprehensive training program may be required. However, if the staff already have some experience, a more targeted approach to training may be appropriate.

Providing clear guidance and direction to the augmented staff is also essential. An excellent way to do this is to have a designated mentor or supervisor who can support and guide the staff through the training process.

Ongoing professional development opportunities for augmented staff

Once augmented staff have completed the initial training, it is paramount to provide them with ongoing professional development opportunities such as:

• Refresher courses
• Training in new technologies or processes
• Development workshops

These opportunities will ensure that augmented staff remain up to date with any changes in the industry or workplace and can continue to contribute to the team.

Legal and Ethical Considerations in Staff Augmentation

While it can significantly benefit businesses, several legal and ethical considerations must be contemplated when engaging in staff augmentation.

These are just some of them:

• Regulatory requirements: Companies must ensure that staff augmentation services comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
• Data security: Organizations should be aware of the laws related to data privacy and security and should take steps to ensure that user data is handled accordingly.
• Respect for intellectual property: Organizations should ensure that any content used in staff augmentation is appropriately licensed and that all necessary permissions are obtained.
• Non-discrimination: Organizations should take all reasonable steps to ensure that their staff augmentation process is non-discriminatory, based on race, gender, age, religion, or other prohibited grounds.

Ethical practices while managing augmented staff

Organizations must ensure that their external personnel are treated with respect and fairness and that their working conditions are protected from discrimination. This includes providing adequate training and supervision, as well as ensuring that their rights are respected.

Organizations must also ensure their external personnel are appropriately compensated for their work. This includes ensuring they are paid on time and receive any benefits they are entitled to in the office space.

Here is how to ensure compliance with local and international laws:

1. Research local and international laws that may apply to staff augmentation services.
2. Develop policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable laws.
3. Monitor contractual agreements to ensure compliance with applicable laws.
4. Provide training to employees on applicable laws and regulations.
5. Establish a reporting system to identify and address any violations.

What Are Some Potential Challenges of the Staff Augmentation Model?

While staff augmentation offers numerous benefits, it also presents its fair share of challenges. 

Some of the most common challenges include:

• Onboarding and integration
• Legal and compliance issues
• Maintaining company culture
• Communication and collaboration
• Intellectual property protection
• Managing costs and budget constraints
• Retaining augmented staff
• Measuring performance and success
• Scaling staff augmentation efforts

How Can I Reduce the Challenges Associated With Managing Augmented Staff?

Partnering with a staff augmentation company like WillDom for project outsourcing is the easiest way to reduce the challenges of managing augmented staff. 

A staff augmentation provider can equip organizations with highly skilled professionals with specialized industry experience, allowing organizations to focus on their core business objectives.

Additionally, staff augmentation companies can help reduce costs, as team augmentation is more cost-effective than traditional recruitment and hiring processes. They can help reduce the time it takes to find the right personnel, as they already have a pool of qualified candidates.

Are You Ready to Experience the Benefits of Staff Augmentation?

At WillDom, we provide organizations with the resources and support they need to quickly and effectively augment their staff. Unlike an average outsourcing company or managed services provider, we specialize in providing our clients with the highest quality professionals with the skills, experience, and industry knowledge necessary to help them achieve their business objectives.

Contact WillDom today to learn more about our staff augmentation services!