Project delivery, dedicated team or staff augmentation: how to choose

When a company needs more engineering capacity, the hardest decision is often not which technology to use but how to work with an outside team. The three common models solve different problems, and choosing the wrong one costs more than any line of code.

1. Project delivery

You describe the outcome; the partner owns scope, design, development, testing and launch. You pay per milestone.

• Best when the goal is clear and bounded — an MVP, a new platform, a rebuild.
• You get one accountable team and a fixed plan.
• Less flexible when priorities change every week.

2. Dedicated team

A cross-functional team — developers, QA, often a designer and a project lead — works only on your product, long term, following your roadmap. Billing is monthly.

• Best for products that keep evolving after launch.
• The team builds deep knowledge of your domain over time.
• You stay in control of priorities; the partner handles hiring, tooling and continuity.

3. Staff augmentation

Individual engineers join your existing team, attend your stand-ups and follow your processes. This is the most common model for software houses that need extra hands quickly.

• Best when you already have engineering leadership and processes.
• Fastest to start — often within days.
• You manage the work; the partner guarantees the people.

Questions to ask before you choose

• Who owns the final result — you or the partner?
• How often will priorities change in the next six months?
• Do you have a technical lead who can direct extra engineers?
• Is the need temporary (a peak) or permanent (a product)?
• How will security, code ownership and handover be handled?

Many companies combine models: a project to launch, then a dedicated team to grow, with maintenance and support once the product is stable. If you're unsure, the AMS15 Project Planner suggests a model based on your goals in under a minute.