5 Misconceptions About Staff Augmentation

Staff augmentation is the outsourcing of temporary workers to fill short-term capacity within a company. Similarly to contingent staffing, this model helps diminish the gap between skills possessed within the company and skills needed for a project’s success. With the current talent shortage facing the IT industry, staff augmentation helps fill gaps with external talent. Tapping into an external talent pool helps augment capabilities and improve the bottom line. Companies can hire skilled workers or teams geared towards their needs for short-term or long-term projects. With a new sense of flexibility, staff augmentation boosts efficiency, quality, and success. While augmented staff typically work remote, they are still part of the team, and the same in-house rules apply. Since staff augmentation is used on an as-needed basis, it is a fast, flexible, and efficient method of outsourcing.

Debunking Myths About Staff Augmentation

Myth #1: It’s expensive and offers no cost savings.

The first misconception about staff augmentation is that it is expensive. Looking at the big picture, staff augmentation is less expensive over time than full-time employment. First, augmented staff is usually paid hourly. Unlike full-time employees, there are no additional costs like fixed salaries, bonuses, and employee benefits. Internal costs like hiring and training are avoided entirely, and all needed skills come with the augmented staff.

Myth #2: It goes hand-in-hand with communication issues.

The second misconception is that staff augmentation presents communication issues. When augmented staff live abroad or in different time zones, people assume communication barriers exist. It can be easy to assume that misinterpretation arises with remote work, but in an increasingly remote world virtual collaboration is at novel levels and these fears are diminishing. Augmented teams are designed to fit into the workflow of the project and company for which they are working, and having the right tools, resources, and processes set in place can easily overcome any communication obstacles.

Myth #3: There is no control due to time and cultural differences.

The next misconception is that there is a lack of control with staff augmentation. In terms of time and culture differences, expectations are set prior to beginning the project and can be easily adjusted to benefit the company and the augmented staff. Clear communication helps facilitate control, and at the end of the day, augmented staff are treated the same as full-time employees. Developers also work exclusively with the contracting company, giving the company more control over project recruitment and management.

Myth #4: It’s too risky and does not provide the same quality.

The fourth misconception is that staff augmentation is not as efficient, lacks productivity, and lowers quality. This assumption typically ties into the remote aspect of augmented staff, when in reality, virtual work promotes the flexibility and responsibility of these workers. In terms of risk, the company is choosing candidates that have the abilities, skills, and expertise needed for the project. Recruiting top talent in this seamless cycle helps remove time wasted and enhance focus on the quality of the job that needs to get done.

Myth #5: Staff augmentation offers few long-term benefits.

The last misconception is that staff augmentation has few long-term benefits. Augmented staff cater towards immediate and specific company goals, while covering needs that full-time employees cannot meet. While augmented staff thrive in the short-term, in-house teams can also learn a lot from their expertise. With higher efficiency and speed, there is a sense of scalability as companies can measure success and improve services.

Final Thoughts

Staff augmentation provides companies with an easy route to project success by outsourcing needed talent. Not only is it less expensive than hiring full-time employees, but it also leans into the increasingly remote workplace. Communication issues and a lack of control are easily overcome, as expectations are set early-on to ensure project efficiency. Choosing workers or teams with the needed skills and expertise leads to greater productivity and quality, while benefiting the company in the short and long-term. Ultimately, staff augmentation fosters scalability, flexibility, and efficiency while leading to project success. For IT Staffing and Consulting, contact us today.