Using VoIP

By John Parker

Proliferation of Virtual world has minimized the gap among businesses in the Global village. But, the appealing factor of virtual development that is implemented in Offshore Model of ,High quality, low cost endeavor, is often wrapped up with the complexity of being able to understand the other side. A weak Communication between the Offshore Client and the Vendor can lead to problems such asProductivity LossMismatch of deliverables and expectationsLoss of valuable timeRedundancy of tasks
There is more to communication than merely conveying the content. Besides the semantics, which is the key to being at the same wavelength, Attitude and Diction with which the information is shared are equally important. Software development outsourcing is the main field which mainly depends on the communication. Apart from the problems that arise from differences in culture, language and time zone, the communication could be fudged if there are multiple people communicating from the offshore vendor side to the client. Such ambiguities can be alleviated by implementing appropriate Strategies for communication, as mentioned below:
A. Using Communication Tools:EmailInstant MessengerPhone callsVOIPExtranetsWeb MeetingsVirtual Office CabinetsTicket Management SystemCustomized communication applications
B. Guidelines, Practices and Discipline
The two shores should communicate by following certain guidelines and practicesDesign the Discussion Document that takes into account the perspective from the both the offshore client and the vendor. The Document should outline the following:TasksRoles assigned for the tasksMode of communication between the client and the vendorMode of intra-communication between the Software Teams and the Business TeamsHow to tackle or mitigate any unexpected Issues or RisksStatus Reports [Daily, Weekly]To avoid any communication gap, the correspondence should take place with discipline according to the defined schedule.Risk of information loss is eliminated if both the client and the offshore vendor delegate their tasks through the Project Managers from either side, which enables smooth information relay among the client and the vendor employees.
C. TechniquesClarity of goals before any meeting or phone conversationConcise to-the-point discussionDocuments with bullets and pointsSend summary of discussion
Though E-Business communication tools such as e-mail, tele-conferencing, fax, chat, video–conferencing all serve as a conduit to effective and efficient means of information transfer, their usage can be more productive if used with a planned approach. An effective communication does not end with a healthy initiation, but is sustained keeping the momentum by maintaining agile response loop. Hence, a proactive approach from both the client and the Offshore Vendor is mandatory to further the business goals.
Source: http://www.hytechpro.com/role_of_effective_communicatins_in_offshore_engagement.html

About The Author
John Parker
This article is powered by A-1 Technology, an offshore outsourcing company.
sec@a1internetdesign.com
This article was posted on April 25, 2005