As with any IT project, there’s always a chance that project requirements will change. Before that
happens, it’s a good idea to have a written strategy that details how changes should be submitted and
evaluated, who will be involved in decision-making related to change management, and what process
those decision-makers will use.
To avoid confusion, many IT project managers also include in their plans a clear definition of when a
project will be considered complete. Requirements tracing is useful here, as it gives you a methodology
for ensuring that all functional requirements your client asked for are actually addressed in the end
product. You may also wish to establish a plan for how you’ll transition the resulting IT solution over to
the client, and how you and your team will support it over the long term.
Subcontractor Contracts
Once your independent contractor has agreed to your plan and is ready to begin work, there’s still one
more important detail you need to address: securing his or her signature on a subcontractor agreement.
These types of contracts contain specific language to prevent your independent contractor from being
hired away by your client. At the same time, your contract can be designed to protect your company’s
intellectual property; outline your subcontractor’s responsibilities; and help to ensure a healthy,
longstanding business relationship with your subcontractor.
Creating a contract from scratch is a costly proposition, especially if you need to do it every time you
outsource work. Many IT project managers simply buy standard 1099 independent contractor
agreement form templates. Such form contracts are designed to be customized and can be used
repeatedly for a single, low price. Once you adapt your contract to fit your needs, you may want to pay
an attorney to look the agreement over, just to be sure there’s nothing you overlooked.
By providing your subcontractor with detailed information about your expectations before a project
begins, you can avoid misunderstandings, pave the way for smooth project implementation, and
strengthen your professional relationship with your contractor. Most importantly, you can avoid many
of the project pitfalls that can result in a dissatisfied client.