Twenty Traits Of Software Project Sponsors Who Have The Power To Screw-up An Offshore Outsourcing Engagement

1. Do not allow enough time to put systems in place.
2. Do not want to be reasonable.
3. Consistently demand what is not practical — cannot stand genuine confrontation.
4. Mostly shouting and yelling over the calls — discouraging tones.
5. Expect that offshore team members are not human but machines who can work for 25 hours a day.
6. Expect that offshore team members do not take off even on weekends.
7. Do not know the way to talk with Software Engineers. Communicate as if the team members are their slaves.
8. Expect team members to work for more hours — just because they do not have specific plan in place and ability to manage their end-client’s expectations.
9. Set unrealistic deadlines.
10. Not ready to listen to team member’s concerns.
11. Treats that if there are 100 features to be developed, then each team member can take up 20 features per day! Does not understand that one feature may take 16 hours while the other may be accomplished within less than 30 minutes.
12. Loves to keep inhuman pressure on the team.
13. Do not understand SDLC — wants free services like quality assurance, infrastructure management, and project management.
14. Abusive. Attacks on person rather than tasks. Do not understand human nature.
15. Threaten that they would break the engagement if their (unrealistic) expectations are not met.
16. Does not respect cultural differences.
17. Shows carrot to offshore partners that if you do well and work like donkeys, we will consider you for the next project!
18. Not open to team member’s point of view.
19. Uncivilized in email communications.
20. Believes that software consulting business is all about working for 14 to 16 hours a day – what the heck is planning?

See Also:

1. Seven Habits of Highly Ineffective Project Sponsors
2. Everyday Status Meeting – An Absolute Project Killer
3. Instead, Develop the Traits That Matter