KeepSubcontractorsAtArmsLength

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Name

  • Keep subcontractor at arms length (Anti-Pattern).

Context

  • We have decided to outsource some of the work.
  • The subcontractor and client may be in one time zone while we are in another.

Problem

  • How do we retain control over the project and ownership of the client?

Forces

  • We don’t fully trust the subcontractor (they may be a former competitor).
  • The subcontractor may look more attractive to the client than we do.
  • We wrote the proposal to incorporate key technologies so we need to make sure the contractor uses them.
  • We have not worked for this client before and we want to win more work in the future.

Solution

  • Establish procedures for formal communication and insist on following the legal terms of the contact.
  • Insist on delivery to agreed timetable.

Resulting Context

  • Quality of deliverable doesn’t meet client expectations.
  • Communications breakdown.

Related Patterns

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