Claude Montpetit -- Montpetit.net -- en

I just started managing work that the company I work for is contracting to an off-shore firm. I will try to write about this experience, and explain how things are going. It is late tonight so I will be brief, and as introduction, I will simply mention the communicatin tools we are using so far. Remember that this team and I have never met. The challenge is considerable as these people must get familiar with a somewhat complex application with limited documentation. Interaction is crucial to get them going.

So here are the tools we are using:

• Subversion over HTTP/WebDav
• Trac Project Management (Ticket system, Wiki, SVN integration with ChangeSets)
• Mailing list
• MSN Messenger for chatting.
• WebEx and GoToOffice for remote desktop access for demo or installation purposes. Not cheap.
• Traditional phone calls. Not cheap.

We will soon try

• MSN Messenger's application sharing to possibly replace WebEx or GoToOffice.
• Skype for phone calls over IP to replace traditional phone calls.

I'll try to talk about many more issues in the days or weeks to come: time zone difference, ethic, risk ("management"?), and more.