Team Extension: how to prepare your company for specialized consulting

As business challenges become more complex, the traditional hiring model may no longer be sufficient to address workload peaks or projects that require highly specialized skills. This is where the Team Extension model comes in. This approach allows companies to leverage their internal teams with external specialized talent, ensuring flexibility and access to specific skills without exceeding the budget. However, for this collaboration to be truly efficient, careful preparation is essential. From defining objectives to selecting the ideal partner, each step has a direct impact on the project's success. This article highlights the key steps to implement the Team Extension model in a structured and productive way.

Rui Miranda

Assess your needs

The first step for a successful partnership is understanding the needs of your project.

Ask yourself:

What is the main goal?
Launching a new product, scaling the team for increased demand, or modernizing internal systems?
What type of specialists will you need?
Developers, UX/UI designers, project managers, or data engineers?
What is the project timeline and budget?
It's important to define a clear budget and understand the deadlines by which you expect to complete the project..

By answering these questions, you will better structure your needs and ensure that the selected partner has the appropriate resources and experience.

Financial planning

Setting a realistic and detailed budget is essential to avoid surprises throughout the project. In addition to consulting fees, consider other internal costs, such as the time invested by your team in integrating external consultants or acquiring specific tools and licenses.

Also, leave room for unforeseen circumstances. Projects of this nature often have last-minute adjustments, and a well-structured budget allows you to accommodate these changes without compromising the final outcome.

Choose the right partner

Choosing the right consulting partner is crucial for the success of the project. It is essential that the partner you choose is able to adapt to your company’s needs.

Consider the following criteria when evaluating potential partners:

Industry experience: Does the partner have a proven track record of success in projects similar to yours?
Flexibility and adaptability: Can the partner quickly adjust the team based on the project’s needs?
Work methodology: Is the partner familiar with methodologies like Agile, Scrum, or Kanban?
Ongoing support: Is there post-project follow-up and support?
Cultural alignment: Are the values and work styles of the partner in line with your company’s?

Prepare the integration

Once you’ve chosen the partner, the integration phase is critical. It is important to align expectations from the outset by clearly defining objectives, deadlines, and responsibilities for both parties. Make sure that all team members, both internal and external, are aligned.

Some points to consider to facilitate the integration:

Collaboration tools: Use platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Jira to keep the team aligned.
Regular meetings: Achedule periodic meetings to track progress, identify challenges, and adjust the plan if necessary.
Point of contact: Designate a person responsible for bridging the internal team and the consultancy, ensuring clear and efficient communication.

Conclusion

The work doesn't end when the project is delivered.

The Team Extension model is an effective way to strengthen your team with specialized talent, offering flexibility and innovation capacity. To ensure a successful partnership, it’s important to assess project needs, plan the budget carefully, choose the right partner, and ensure good team integration.

By following these steps, you'll have the foundation for a productive and successful collaboration.