Outsourcing a Project

The question is, can the work be done more efficiently by you or by a third party? Both alternatives have their pros and cons. Here are some factors that might influence the decision:

	Your product release schedule doesn't leave much wiggle room. In order to prevent burnout and meet tight (unreasonable?) project deadlines, you could use some additional support.
	You need some expertise that may not be available in your organization, and it's impractical to increase headcount.
	You want to give your key employees more time to concentrate on critical path activities.
	You want the benefits of offshoring without the hassle.
	Your need for qualified management and/or staff is limited to the life of the project.
	It's too expensive to develop a solution yourself.
	You need support in adopting/adapting standard software and providing training.
	You need someone who can gather and analyze information independently, in order to recommend solutions that are most compatible with your company's goals.
	You understand the value of developing and maintaining long term relationships with customers and vendors.
	You know your confidentiality and trade secrets won't be compromised.
	You need a reliable and competent project partner as a backup resource.