Software Development Engagement Models

Find the Right Fit for How You Work

Choosing how to collaborate with a development team is a strategic decision. The wrong model can lead to misaligned expectations, budget stress, and friction. But the right one feels natural, like your team simply gained new members in another location. We offer three core engagement models because we know that a startup validating an idea has completely different needs than a corporation scaling an established platform. Your project’s phase, budget, and need for flexibility should dictate the structure, not the other way around. Let’s break down each option so you can see which one matches your current reality.

Time & Material: Agility for Discovery

The majority of projects (especially early projects) allow adaptation and growth. A set amount of time and money can be a limitation to developing or modelling in another area or to a new market. Therefore, in all of the phases of the project from idea generation to execution, we will utilize the Time & Materials Methodology. This methodology will allow the development team to invoice the actual time they worked and for services or tools that were agreed upon prior to the project’s start. During this time we will conduct our work in short sprints, typically a two-week cycle, which includes progress meetings and demos. This allows the client maximum flexibility and control over the direction of the project, including adjusting the priority of features and improving the look and feel of the site at the conclusion of each cycle. Essentially this gives up some upfront financial certainty in exchange for additional control over the evolution of the product. We operate under a partnership model where open communication builds trust and confidence between the client and the agency in order to successfully achieve product-market fit.

Fixed-Scope Project: Certainty for Defined Goals

A fixed-scope model on which a project is based with a defined endpoint is also beneficial as a predictably budgeted project which is important for resource planning or seeking financing. To achieve success within the confines of a fixed-scope model, both the planning and the communication outlined in the statement of work must provide enough information for all parties involved to visualize what the end product will be. Fixed-scope project models are best utilized on projects that are clearly defined, such as adding a feature to an existing site or creating a new microsite for a specific product (i.e., implementing a version of an existing version), and have little likelihood of changing during the duration of the project’s lifecycle.

The Dedicated Team: Your Seamless Extension

Imagine needing to instantly add a fully-formed product team to your company. That’s the dedicated team model. We assemble a complete pod—developers, a designer, a QA engineer, and a lead—that integrates directly into your workflow. This team works exclusively for you, using your tools and following your processes as if they were down the hall. We handle all the complex HR and administrative work behind the scenes. You get to focus on managing the project’s direction, not the team’s payroll. This model is built for the long term. It’s ideal when you have an evolving product roadmap rather than a single finish line. It offers the ultimate flexibility to pivot and scale, as you’re essentially leasing a focused, high-performance unit that becomes a true part of your organization.

The Hybrid Approach: Combining Flexibility and Security

Sometimes, a single model doesn’t quite cover everything. That’s where a hybrid approach can be powerful. Imagine you have a core platform that needs ongoing development and support—that’s perfect for a dedicated team. But then, you have a separate, innovative new module with uncertain requirements. For that piece, a Time & Material structure might be better. We can absolutely structure a hybrid engagement. It allows you to apply the right financial and managerial framework to different parts of your project portfolio. You get the cost certainty where you need it and the agile flexibility where you want it, all under one partnership umbrella. It’s a more sophisticated setup that we often implement for clients with complex, multi-faceted digital roadmaps.

How to Choose Your Path

The selection of an outsourcing model is determined ultimately by the answers to three questions based on experience: How specific do you need your current requirements to be defined? Is this ongoing or just temporary? How frequently will you be working with your outsourced team every day or on a regular basis?
Multiple-year engagements with changing requirements typically lend themselves to using a dedicated team model whereas fixed-scope projects are more suited for one-time, well-defined deliverables, and using a time and materials model will typically align with earlier phases of project development where learning and modifying based on findings can be expected to occur.

The great news is that you do not have to make a long-lasting commitment to any of the above models. We tend to assist most clients in starting with one model and then changing to another model as they progress with the project, thereby ensuring that the model used best facilitates the work versus the work being done around the model.

frequently asked questions

Yes, absolutely. Projects evolve, and so can our engagement. We can smoothly transition from one model to another with a clear change order, ensuring the legal and financial framework always matches the actual work being done.
We use detailed time-tracking through tools like Jira and provide weekly timesheets and sprint reports. You’ll always know what your team is working on and how time is being allocated, with no surprises.
In a dedicated team, your internal lead directs the work. In fixed-scope projects, we provide a project manager to ensure on-spec delivery. For time and material, collaboration is shared, with our lead facilitating sprint execution based on your priorities.

 For startups and early-stage products, the Time & Material model or a small dedicated team is often the best fit. These models allow room for experimentation, frequent iteration, and changing priorities without being locked into rigid requirements. They support product discovery, MVP development, and rapid pivots as market feedback comes in.

We prioritize clear communication and integration with your existing workflows. Our teams work within your preferred tools for project management, communication, and documentation. Regular stand-ups, sprint reviews, and progress reports ensure alignment, transparency, and a sense of continuity—so the team feels like a natural extension of your in-house staff.

Contact today for FREE consultation.

Ready to Find the Right Fit for Your Project?

From dedicated staffing to fixed-scope solutions to agile time & materials or a hybrid of all three, we’re here to help you shape your engagement in the most efficient, most impactful way. Schedule your consultation now and let’s build a model for working together that fits your team and your goals.