How to prepare your team for a staff augmentation? 5 Tips in 2024

How to prepare your team for a staff augmentation? 5 Tips in 2024

blog-author-images
Facu Gandini
Braintly Co-Founder

Preparing your team for staff augmentation involves strategic planning to ensure a seamless integration of additional resources. 

This requires a deep understanding of the concept, its benefits for growing businesses, and the roles suitable for augmentation. 

In this blog, we explore the intricacies of preparing your team for staff augmentation, emphasizing the importance of leveraging hard data to align the process with corporate objectives. 

Our guidance offers a dependable and optimistic pathway to achieve business growth and increased profitability.

Understanding Staff Augmentation

Staff augmentation is a strategic approach, empowering businesses to bolster their teams with skilled professionals as and when required. This tactic offers:

  • Flexibility: Businesses can easily adapt their workforce depending on project necessities and changing market conditions.

  • Cost-efficiency: Staff augmentation significantly cuts overhead expenditures linked to onboard full-time employees, including benefits, office space, and equipment.

  • Access to vast talent pool: This method provides an opportunity to exploit a wide range of specialized skills, often unavailable within the organization.

  • Lean operations: Companies can sustain efficient operations during rapid and effective scaling, ensuring skilled personnel's availability as per specific demands.

For an organization like Craig's, striving to maintain agility and stay competitive, staff augmentation plays a pivotal role in fostering growth and adapting to the continuously evolving business environment.

Recommended Reading: Managed Services vs Staff Augmentation

Identifying the Needed Roles

Ascertaining the roles that need augmentation is a pivotal phase in the staffing process. Begin by critically examining the current skills within your team and identify the voids that demand attention. 

For projects intensive in technology, the requirement may range from software developers, QA testers, to data analysts possessing niche expertise that your primary team might not possess.

It is indispensable to demarcate the project's extent and timeframe to deduce if you require immediate assistance or enduring support. 

Reflect upon more than just the technical prowess, but also the capability to dovetail with your present team's culture and processes. Always remember, the aim is to boost your team, and not to substitute it.

By meticulously evaluating your project's demands and the dynamics of your team, you can pinpoint the appropriate roles for staff augmentation - roles that would propel your business ahead without creating upheaval in your operations.

Developing Your Staffing Strategy

Structuring your team for staff augmentation commences with unambiguous communication. 

Eliciting an understanding about the necessity of amalgamating external expertise and its alignment with your immediate team and larger business goals is pivotal. Address any qualms and cultivate an environment receptive to change.

Preparing your team to collaborate effectively with augmentees is critical; this involves acquainting them with collaborative tools and procedures exercised throughout the teams. 

Establish lucid expectations and demarcate roles for preventing role-confusion and ensuring accountability. Spurring a cooperative attitude is the essence of smooth integration.

Additionally, ensure your pre-existing team has a voice in the selection process of augmentees whenever feasible. 

Such participation amplifies team endorsement and facilitates the transition, laying the groundwork for a more synergistic and efficacious workforce.

Recommended Reading: Staff Augmentation vs Project Outsourcing

Leaning on Hard Data

Leveraging solid empirical evidence is fundamental in formulating your staffing strategy. 

By employing hard data, you can gain deep insights into labor market trends, competence requisites, and the proficiency of your existing team. 

Assessing variables such as project schedules, financial allotments, and prior team performance indicators can lead to accurate foresight regarding future staffing requirements. 

This methodology underpins not only strategic formulation but also substantiates the value of staff augmentation investments to principal stakeholders. 

Utilize data to evaluate the efficiency and value additions made by augmented personnel as they integrate into your team. 

Quantifiable benchmarks such as project fulfillment ratios, code excellence, and input towards innovation can shed light on the added value by new personnel. 

With quantitative substantiation at your disposal, you are empowered to make strategic decisions, keeping your business objectives in clear focus and facilitating observable results.

Variable Importance
Labor Market Trends Understanding trends in the labor market helps in predicting future staffing needs and demands.
Competence Requisites Identifying the necessary skills and competencies ensures that the right talent is sourced.
Proficiency of Existing Team Assessing the proficiency of the existing team helps in identifying areas for improvement.
Project Schedules Considering project schedules ensures timely staffing to meet project deadlines.
Financial Allotments Evaluating financial allotments helps in budgeting and allocating resources efficiently.
Prior Team Performance Analyzing prior team performance indicators provides insights into team capabilities.
Project Fulfillment Ratios Quantifying the success rate of project completion indicates the effectiveness of the staffing strategy.
Code Excellence Measuring the quality of code produced by augmented personnel reflects their competence and contribution.
Input towards Innovation Assessing the contribution of augmented staff towards innovation measures their value addition to the team.

How to prepare your team for a staff augmentation?

Preparing your team for successful staff augmentation involves a strategic and meticulous approach. By following these six key steps, you can ensure a seamless integration of additional resources, aligning the process with your business objectives and fostering a collaborative and efficient workforce.

  1. Assess Current Team Skills and Identify Gaps:Begin by critically evaluating the skills within your existing team. Identify the specific areas where additional expertise is needed. This assessment is crucial in understanding the voids that staff augmentation can address. Consider not only technical skills but also cultural fit and compatibility with your team's processes.
  2. Define Project Scope and Duration:Clearly demarcate the extent and timeframe of the project. Determine whether you need immediate support or long-term assistance. Understanding the project's scope enables you to pinpoint the roles that require augmentation and ensures a strategic alignment with your business goals.
  3. Communicate Transparently with Your Team:Initiate unambiguous communication with your existing team about the necessity of external expertise. Address any concerns and emphasize the alignment of staff augmentation with immediate team and larger business objectives. Creating an open and receptive environment is crucial for successful collaboration and smooth integration.
  4. Familiarize Your Team with Collaboration Tools:Prepare your team to collaborate effectively with augmentees by acquainting them with collaborative tools and procedures commonly used. Establish clear expectations and roles to prevent confusion and ensure accountability. A cooperative attitude is essential for a harmonious integration, fostering a unified and efficient working environment.
  5. Involve Your Team in the Selection Process:Whenever feasible, include your pre-existing team in the selection process of augmentees. Their participation not only enhances team endorsement but also facilitates a smoother transition. By considering the insights and preferences of your existing team, you lay the groundwork for a more synergistic and efficacious workforce.
  6. Leverage Hard Data for Strategic Decision-Making:Embrace a data-driven approach in formulating your staffing strategy. Utilize hard data to gain insights into labor market trends, competence requisites, and the proficiency of your current team. Assess variables such as project schedules, financial allotments, and prior team performance indicators. This empirical evidence not only guides strategic decision-making but also substantiates the value of staff augmentation investments to key stakeholders.

By following these six steps, you'll be well-equipped to prepare your team for staff augmentation, ensuring a successful integration that propels your business forward and aligns with your overarching objectives.

How to prepare your team for a staff augmentation?

Steps Summary
Assess Current Team Skills and Identify Gaps Begin by critically evaluating the skills within your existing team. Identify the specific areas where additional expertise is needed. This assessment is crucial in understanding the voids that staff augmentation can address. Consider not only technical skills but also cultural fit and compatibility with your team's processes.
Define Project Scope and Duration Clearly demarcate the extent and timeframe of the project. Determine whether you need immediate support or long-term assistance. Understanding the project's scope enables you to pinpoint the roles that require augmentation and ensures a strategic alignment with your business goals.
Communicate Transparently with Your Team Initiate unambiguous communication with your existing team about the necessity of external expertise. Address any concerns and emphasize the alignment of staff augmentation with immediate team and larger business objectives. Creating an open and receptive environment is crucial for successful collaboration and smooth integration.
Familiarize Your Team with Collaboration Tools Prepare your team to collaborate effectively with augmentees by acquainting them with collaborative tools and procedures commonly used. Establish clear expectations and roles to prevent confusion and ensure accountability. A cooperative attitude is essential for a harmonious integration, fostering a unified and efficient working environment.
Involve Your Team in the Selection Process Whenever feasible, include your pre-existing team in the selection process of augmentees. Their participation not only enhances team endorsement but also facilitates a smoother transition. By considering the insights and preferences of your existing team, you lay the groundwork for a more synergistic and efficacious workforce.
Leverage Hard Data for Strategic Decision-Making Embrace a data-driven approach in formulating your staffing strategy. Utilize hard data to gain insights into labor market trends, competence requisites, and the proficiency of your current team. Assess variables such as project schedules, financial allotments, and prior team performance indicators.

4 Best practices to prepare your team for Staff Augmentation

Some best practices of Staff Augmentation are: 

  • Structuring your team for staff augmentation commences with unambiguous communication. Eliciting an understanding about the necessity of amalgamating external expertise and its alignment with your immediate team and larger business goals is pivotal. Address any qualms and cultivate an environment receptive to change.
  • Preparing your team to collaborate effectively with augmentees is critical; this involves acquainting them with collaborative tools and procedures exercised throughout the teams. 
  • Establish lucid expectations and demarcate roles for preventing role-confusion and ensuring accountability. Spurring a cooperative attitude is the essence of smooth integration.
  • Additionally, ensure your pre-existing team has a voice in the selection process of augmentees whenever feasible. Such participation amplifies team endorsement and facilitates the transition, laying the groundwork for a more synergistic and efficacious workforce.

Leaning on Hard Data

Leveraging solid empirical evidence is fundamental in formulating your staffing strategy. 

By employing hard data, you can gain deep insights into labor market trends, competence requisites, and the proficiency of your existing team. 

Assessing variables such as project schedules, financial allotments, and prior team performance indicators can lead to accurate foresight regarding future staffing requirements. 

This methodology underpins not only strategic formulation but also substantiates the value of staff augmentation investments to principal stakeholders. 

Utilize data to evaluate the efficiency and value additions made by augmented personnel as they integrate into your team. 

Quantifiable benchmarks such as project fulfillment ratios, code excellence, and input towards innovation can shed light on the added value by new personnel. 

With quantitative substantiation at your disposal, you are empowered to make strategic decisions, keeping your business objectives in clear focus and facilitating observable results.

The Braintly Difference: Top-Tier LATAM Engineers

Our LATAM engineers, renowned in the dynamic tech industry, are meticulously handpicked ensuring unrivaled expertise and reliability. 

Our rigorous vetting process ensures 100% of our LATAM engineers come with pertinent professional credentials along with a track record of successful project execution.

Cross-cultural Compatibility and Fluent English Proficiency Our LATAM engineers mirror US corporate culture and offer excellent English language skills for superior integration and clear communication within your team. 

Demonstrating smooth team assimilation and efficient collaboration, over 95% of our LATAM engineers are proficient in English.

Adoption of Innovative Technologies and Approaches Braintly engineers are conversant with the latest technologies and introduce innovative thinking, encouraging a vibrant software development approach. 

About 85% of our engineers continually stay updated with the latest technological trends in software development.

Significant Cost-Efficiency Collaboration with LATAM engineers results in substantial economic advantages, offering up to 60% savings when compared to hiring full-time in-house employees, without compromising quality. 

Data from past projects reflects up to 60% savings on staffing expenditure while maintaining equivalent work quality standards.

Expanding Team Capability within Budgetary Boundaries The distinct Braintly proposition our goal is to magnify your team's potential whilst strictly adhering to your budgetary guidelines. 

Thanks to Braintly, 70% of our clients were able to enhance their team's skill set without exceeding their projected staffing budget.

The Braintly Difference Description Data Points
Premier LATAM Engineers Our LATAM engineers are celebrated figures in the ever-evolving tech landscape, selected meticulously to guarantee top-notch expertise and dependability. - Chosen through a rigorous selection process - 100% possess relevant professional qualifications and successful project deliveries.
Cultural Affinity and Fluent English Communication Our LATAM engineers share cultural similarities with US corporate culture and demonstrate proficient English skills to ensure seamless integration and lucid communication within your team. - More than 95% are proficient in English - Contribute to smooth team integration and effective collaboration.
Cutting-edge Technologies and Innovative Approaches Braintly engineers are adept with the latest technologies and bring fresh perspectives to the table, catalyzing a vibrant approach to software development. - 85% have experience with the latest tech trends - Consistently stay ahead of the curve.
Substantial Cost Savings Partnering with LATAM engineers leads to substantial economic benefits, providing up to 60% cost savings compared to onboarding full-time, in-house staff, without sacrificing work quality. - Savings of up to 60% on staffing costs while maintaining comparable work quality metrics.
Enhancing Team Potential within Budget Constraints Our unique value proposition encapsulates the Braintly difference — our mission is to amplify your team's capabilities while adhering strictly to your budget. - 70% of clients expanded team's skill set without overshooting their projected staffing budget.

Flexible Scalability

At Braintly, our staff augmentation approach is designed with scalability at the forefront. We acknowledge that business necessities can ebb and flow, leading to the need for teams to agilely scale up or down. 

Our staff augmentation solution offers:

  • Flexibility: Alter the size of your augmented team as needed, instantly reacting to project intricacies or market variations.

  • Risk Mitigation: Minimize the chances of over or understaffing, ensuring the appropriate number of skilled professionals are always at your disposal.

  • Scalable Talent Infrastructure: Engage access to a scalable talent framework, not just individuals, which aligns with your growth objectives and adapts to your fluctuating needs.

With Braintly, your focus remains undivided on your core business priorities, assured that your staffing can match pace with the speed of your company's evolution.

Recommended Reading: Staff Augmentation vs Consulting

Collaborative Working: The Braintly Mashup

Operating as One Team

The Braintly Mashup doesn't just stop at staff augmentation; it's dedicated to the formation of a unified team that operates as a single, cohesive unit. 

In our distinctive workshop, we bridge your existing in-house staff with our augmented professionals, aiming to amplify collaboration and propagate best practices. Our goal is to create common ground for understanding work ethics, objectives, and methodologies.

The prime objective here is to ascertain that everyone, irrespective of role or location, is progressing in the same direction, fueled by a communal commitment to the project's success

We underscore the necessity of transparency, shared respect, and open communication lines to cultivate a work environment where every team member feels valued and indispensable.

Our collaborative approach isn't just about meeting deadlines; it's about speeding them up and fostering a culture driven by innovation and ceaseless improvement.

Recommended Reading: Best Staff Augmentation country in Latin America

Fostering a Culture of Innovation

Innovation is the lifeline of progressive companies, and at Braintly, we are unwaveringly committed to fostering a culture that cultivates fresh ideas and inspires creative solutions. 

Our collaboration model, The Braintly Mashup, is more than a team integration; it's a rich soil for innovative growth. 

By uniting diverse thinkers from your team and ours, we construct a dynamic atmosphere where out-of-the-box ideas can thrive and be explored.

Braintly engineers are not mere executors; they are proactive players who constantly search for opportunities to enhance and innovate. 

We encourage an iterative approach where feedback is actively sought, considered and integrated, ensuring that the team is always evolving and fine-tuning strategies.

This culture of constant innovation is crucial for maintaining your business at the forefront of its sector, guaranteeing that each project reaps the benefits of advanced thinking and leading-edge technology.

Recommended Reading: Staff Augmentation Costs in Latin America