What are the guidelines to be remembered if outsourcing strategy is chosen for web application development?

Web applications are outsourced to vendors who specialize in web development. There are some guidelines to be followed while considering outsourcing strategy for the web development:

PROJECT INITIATION :
Before searching for an outsourcing vendor, some tasks needs to be done :
- Analysis tasks should be performed internally.
- Web application audience are identified.
- Overall goals and objectives are defined.
- A rough design of the web application should be developed internally.
- A rough project schedule including delivery dates, milestones dates should be developed.
- Responsibilities for internal organization and outsourcing vendor is created.
- Degree of interaction and oversight with contracting organization is identified.

SELECTING OUTSOURCING VENDORS :
- Interview clients to determine the vendor's professionalism, ability to meet schedule.
- Determining the name of the vendor's chief web engineer.
- Examine work samples of vendor.

ASSESS THE VALIDITY OF PRICE QUOTES AND RELIABILITY OF ESTIMATES:
- Does the quoted cost provide direct or in direct return on investment.
- doe the vendor providing the quote has the professionalism and experience.

UNDERSTANDING THE DEGREE OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT YOU CAN EXPECT:
- It depends on size, cost and complexity of the web application.
- Plans are developed for mitigating, monitoring and managing risks.
- Quality assurance and change control mechanisms are defined.
- Effective communication between contractor and vendor should be established.

THE DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE SHOULD BE ASSESSED:
- The development schedule should have a fine granularity.
- Tasks and minor milestones should be scheduled on daily timeline.

MANAGE SCOPE:
- Scope changes as web application project moves forward.
- To manage scope, the work to be performed within an increment is frozen.
- Changes are deployed until the next web application increment.