The 6 Benefits of AptudeFlex

While we can work in a “Time and Materials” model with named resources in a SOW, we choose not to in favor of a far more flexible, affordable, and efficient model we call the AptudeFlex™ Project Success Model. In this model, we negotiate a price per team size, with teams ranging in size from 3 to 18 people.

Pinpoint Accuracy Requirements Gathering

AptudeFlex Team Sizing, Staffing, and Pricing

AptudeFlex Project Success Model

Scale Up or Down, Sprint by Sprint

Retained Knowledge No Matter What Happens

Pivot to the Next Thing Faster

A Message about the Value of AptudeFlex + Offshore

“Prior to our clients utilizing Aptude Flex and our MSM model, the manager typically was involved and charged with identifying the right resource, managing his/her work and making sure he or she was productive. In many cases the manager(s) would hire across a diverse set of consulting firms, which was a lot to manage. There was a perception that since the manager made the final call on the contract-hire, that the quality of work would be strong.

In this model, what happens, however, is that the management team becomes responsible to make sure the contracted resources are working, adding value, keeping busy, being productive. The IT Consulting firm in most cases got a free pass in making sure their respective resource was productive. Furthermore, guess what would happen when the work slowed down, and they found a resource being idle? In many cases, they would let that sub-contractor terminate and the embedded knowledge of months, maybe years of work would walk right out the door with that IT contractor. This became even more pervasive when multiple IT consulting firms were used. Who retained the knowledge?

In the Aptude model, the client’s focus moves away from managing the resource to a mindset and culture of having the client focus on the deliverables. Instead of micro-managing contractors, management can focus on big picture questions like,

• Are the deliverables provided in timely and quality-based fashion?
• Are we meeting strategic goals and objectives for this project?
• What objectives do we need to meet next?

In this new model, it’s Aptude’s job to manage the resource, the velocity, and the deliverables. Aptude becomes accountable. Furthermore, since Aptude selects, manages and takes an active part in the sprints, the knowledge is not compromised when the client needs to ramp down. The knowledge doesn’t walk out the door.

Another benefit of this enmeshed model is cost containment. In the old model, the client would choose the resource and modality and since they wanted to make sure quality was high, they would prefer onsite. It is easier to manage quality when the resource is within the entity. Unfortunately, that benefit also comes with a high-cost constraint. If Aptude can choose the resource and oversees the deliverables, Aptude can also manage the type and work-location of the resources. This shifting of control brings with it cost savings which is passed to the client.

This model is not just beneficial for the build of applications, but it is superior for the run. All applications eventually go to support-mode where potential enhancements are needed or bug-fixes, problem management occurs. With a build in team of knowledgeable resources, in many cases we see high-quality support that is at a fraction of the cost of having an onsite associate driven team.

Also, what do you prefer your current strategic IT associates doing? Should you have them support applications for part (or all) of their day, maybe their night… and then transition to strategic work? Or should they just focus on strategic work? Which one is more productive?

Furthermore, does it make sense to pay high-cost IT associate rates to support your applications when a more affordable, possibly retainer, model with quality resources will manage perfectly well? For most of our clients, the answer is no. The best choice is Aptude Flex.”

The Benefits of Aptude Service Delivery Models