Help & How-To

Internet/E-Commerce
How do I get my programmers in India to finish my project?
My website was supposed to be completed by the end of December and it still isn't complete to launch. I talk with them on a daily basis and it seems they're always having resource problems. I have secured the investment to pay for the website; I am just waiting for them to complete the project then I will pay the remaining balance. This is an awesome project too! What do I do?

Asked by Jordanbrown5
Posted: Tuesday, March 04, 2008  |  Found in Internet/E-Commerce


More answers by Lena West
Answer by Lena West
I'm sorry to learn of your troubles in getting your website completed. Sometimes when web projects go awry it's because there is no plan to keep them on track.

I would suggest having a straight-forward conversation with the developers, letting them know that you are absolutely unhappy and that you are considering your alternatives. You can express to them that while you really want to finish the project with them, you have a business to run too. Suggest that you work together to develop a project completion plan and set a date that the website will actually get done--and create a penalty for them if they don't complete it in the time specified. Make sure the final payment is in some way linked to your receipt of all their work and the web files they developed for you.

I would also start working on your plan B. What is the worst case scenario? Figure out what that is and then prepare for it. There's nothing worse than being in a bad situation and not having an escape route.

In the future, when using offshore development teams, make sure someone is nearshore to manage the project.

Best of luck!
Lena West is the CEO and Chief Strategist of xynoMedia Technology , a New York-based firm that helps high-growth companies leverage the power of social media, blogs, podcasts and online communities.


Recent Articles & Resources
Insight from Business Experts
Leadership In Troubled Times
I have something of a rant in me - and it has to do with politics. But this isn't a partisan rant, it's a rant about leadership in troubled times. Like all of you I've been riveted by the unfolding financial crisis - as have my employees, all 86 of ...

Ten Steps to Successful Online Book Marketing
Marketing your book online is both rewarding and challenging. It’s rewarding because much of what you can do online is either free or low cost. Knowing what to do and in what order is the challenging part. There is a method to marketing your book online that you'll need to follow ...

Some Quick Tips For Small Businesses In This Financial Crisis
The best advice I ever heard was when a wise person said to me the time to evaluate your business cost and cash position is not when times are tough but when times are good. Even so, most people don't do that. However, there are many things a business ...

Venture Capital: Hurt By The Credit Crisis?
Recently, there has been some discussion about whether the credit crisis is helping or hurting venture capitalists. The argument that it is helping holds that the credit crisis has made returns from venture capital investments more favorable than returns from other types of private equity. The high returns to private equity ...
Have a burning question? Ask now!

Meet the Experts