Top Questions To Ask An Application Development Team

Picking an application development team can be very difficult and daunting, especially if you lack experience in the application development space. It is an important decision and should not be taken lightly. A good development team can be the determining factor between a strong MVP and throwing away money on an inadequate product that will only lead to more headaches due to improperly implemented features, a plethora of bugs, or simply incomplete work.

First, let me start with this: application development is not cheap. You definitely should not gauge the quality of a development team based on their price, but most of the time, you get what you pay for. Good developers are not cheap, and if you want quality development, you will have to pay. With that being said, as a startup founder without a technical founder, I highly recommend you either onboard a technical founder, ask around and gauge the development teams that your fellow founders recommend, and/or find a service such as Idea2Impact to help you filter development shops. If you have a technical background and are familiar with all the tech jargon, here is a template to help provide you with guidance and support in your development team selection process.

Key Considerations When Choosing an Application Development Team

Development Process

1. What is your development process from start to finish?
   • Look for a structured and well-defined Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
   • Ensure they have a pipeline for ticket management, code review, test case implementation, and BETA deployment.
2. How do you handle project management and communication?
   • Ask about tools and methodologies used for managing projects and keeping clients informed.
   • Look for an agile process that allows for quick feedback and effective iteration.

Code Quality and Testing

1. How do you ensure code quality?
   • Check if they have review processes in place for developers to provide feedback throughout the development process.
   • Inquire about their quality assurance process, including code reviews, testing practices, and quality assurance measures.
2. What is your testing process, and do you include automated tests?
   • Find out their methods for ensuring bug-free software.
   • A well-thought-out testing process will reduce regressions and ensure that new functionality doesn’t break existing functionality.

Scalability and Maintainability

1. How do you ensure the scalability and maintainability of the systems you build?
   • Check if they write code with future growth in mind.
   • Look for principles that ensure sustainable growth and resilience in the face of changing requirements.
2. What is your policy on documentation?
   • Ensure they provide comprehensive documentation for maintainability.
   • Good answers include Software Design Specs and other technical implementation documents.

Flexibility and Support

1. How do you handle change requests or feature additions during the development process?
   • Assess their flexibility and process for handling scope changes.
   • Ensure they can support your evolving needs without requiring a complete refactor of the application.
2. Do you provide post-launch support and maintenance?
   • Confirm the availability of ongoing support after the project completion.
   • Ensure they have a strategy for quickly addressing any bugs that arise post-launch.

Security and Confidentiality

1. How do you approach security in your application development process?
   • Verify their methods for securing data and ensuring only authenticated users have access to sensitive information.
2. What measures do you take to ensure project confidentiality?
   • Ensure they have policies in place to protect intellectual property, including NDA agreements.

Team Composition and Expertise

1. What’s your team composition, and how are they managed?
   • Inquire about the expertise and structure of the team that will work on the project.
   • Look for a mix of full-stack, frontend, backend, and QA developers.
2. Can you provide references or testimonials from past clients?
   • Ask for past examples of work to gauge the quality and relevance of their previous projects.

Continuous Improvement and Technology Stack

1. How do you stay updated with the latest development trends and technologies?
   • Judge their commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
2. What technologies do you typically use, and why?
   • Understand their technology stacks and their suitability for your project.

Release Management

1. Can you walk us through a typical release cycle for a product update?
   • Understand their process for updates and continuous deployment.
   • Look for agile development practices and a system for validating changes before production releases.

Final Thoughts

Cover these topics with your prospective development team to understand the quality of their work and to set clear expectations. Don’t rush the process. Familiarize yourself with the team because they can either provide you with an adequate MVP to progress in your journey as a founder or hinder your success with a poorly built application. A good development team will help set your expectations and deliver successful applications.

Good luck on your journey in assessing a quality dev team, and may it be a successful one. Feel free to reach out to Idea2Impact Tech Solutions if you need help with your assessments. Cheers!