Use this guide to prepare a scope or compare proposals. It describes an approach to evaluation, not results from a MENTARA client engagement.
Buyer guides
Staff augmentation or a dedicated delivery team?
Compare IT staff augmentation and dedicated teams by delivery ownership, backlog direction, technical decisions and handover responsibilities.
Planning resource
02
Start with who will direct the work
Choose the arrangement based on the responsibilities you need filled. Extra people do not resolve an unowned backlog, and a supplier-led team still needs a client who can set priorities and accept the result. Define the decision boundary before discussing team size.
03
Compare the operating responsibilities
Staff augmentation
Specialists join the delivery model you already lead.
- Your leads direct priorities and technical work.
- Your team owns the backlog and delivery outcome.
- The supplier supports capability matching and the agreed engagement arrangements.
- You provide the access and context needed for effective integration.
Dedicated delivery team
A supplier-led team works within an agreed delivery scope.
- The supplier names a delivery lead and defines team responsibilities.
- A client backlog owner prioritises and resolves business questions.
- Delivery standards and acceptance criteria are agreed between both parties.
- Continuity, documentation and handover are planned as part of the scope.
04
Questions to settle before sourcing
- Who prioritises work and can change the scope?
- Who approves technical decisions and accepts completed work?
- Which roles are missing, and what work will each perform?
- What overlap hours, access and onboarding are required?
- How are absence, replacement, conversion and exit handled?
- Which location-specific engagement requirements need qualified review?
05
Check the proposal against the model
Illustrative example: two engineers joining your existing product team under your engineering manager suggests augmentation. A separately led team owning a defined integration backlog needs explicit team-level responsibilities. Neither label alone establishes legal employment status or guarantees a delivery outcome.
The written scope should make the intended arrangement visible in day-to-day responsibilities, not only in the commercial title.
06
Explore the relevant service
Review the service scope and discuss the capability, responsibilities and first deliverable your requirement needs.
07
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