In a previous blog post, the challenges of hiring technical talent were examined, along with a case for companies to reconsider their hiring strategy by utilizing on-demand talent. The findings indicated that many organizations are turning to outsourced providers to broaden their talent pool, as it is a popular method for attracting a wider range of talent. Additionally, organizations in regions such as the Nordics are increasingly hiring or considering hiring remote development teams to stay competitive and expedite their tech journey. A recent study of organizations in the Nordics revealed that 50% of those working with third-party organizations currently have more than 20 people on their teams. These organizations reported positive outcomes, including faster project delivery, hiring flexibility, and reduced costs.
However, selecting the right model for remote development is crucial to ensuring success, as different models offer varying levels of control, responsibility, and collaboration. This article will guide you through key remote team models and take a deep dive into the Managed Model—Calcey’s bread & butter.
Introduction to the Different Types of Models
There are several remote development team models that companies can adopt based on their needs, the complexity of their projects, and the desired level of control. The most popular models include:
- Freelancers: Individual developers hired for specific tasks or short-term projects.
- Body Shops: Agencies that provide developers but leave management to the client.
- Managed Model (Accountable Teams): A full-service approach where the development partner takes responsibility for the entire project lifecycle, from design to delivery.
There are different models available for businesses to choose from, each with its own set of advantages depending on the level of control and oversight needed. While freelancers and body shops are suitable for short-term needs, the Managed Model excels in providing full accountability and seamless project management, making it the ideal choice for ensuring the success of complex, long-term projects.
Differences Between Each Model
| Model | Responsibility | Management | Best For | Risks |
| Freelancers | Task-specific development | Client-managed | Short-term, small projects | Quality inconsistency, lack of continuity |
| Body Shops | Provides developers, the client manages output | Client-managed | Scaling staff for internal project management | High management overhead |
| Managed Model (Accountable Teams) | Full accountability for end-to-end development | Vendor-managed | Complex, long-term projects requiring flexibility | Higher upfront cost but long-term savings |
Freelancers and body shops allow clients to manage day-to-day activities and offer flexibility, but they need more structured accountability and holistic management offered by the Managed Model. This is where the Managed Model becomes invaluable, ensuring that projects are well-managed and delivered with top-tier quality and efficiency.
Deep Dive into the Managed Model
Structure of the Managed Model
In the Managed Model, the development partner takes full responsibility for the project’s success. This includes overseeing design, development, testing, and project management. Unlike freelancer-based models or body shops, where the project’s quality and productivity depend on the individual skills and reliability of the hired team members, the Managed Model provides a structured approach. Success in this model does not rely on individual brilliance but on well-established processes that ensure consistency and quality across all project lifecycle phases. Each role within the team is specialized, and the project is managed through proven methodologies, reducing variability and delivering predictable, high-quality outcomes.
| Role | Responsibility |
| Business Analyst | Simplifies complex software requirements, working with the product owner to create understandable documents and blueprints for the development team. |
| Project Manager | Oversees project communication among developers, QA engineers, and clients, ensuring smooth operations. May also serve as a scrum master in agile environments. |
| Software Architect | Makes strategic decisions on how software products will be built, considering cost, speed, and future readiness. Responsible for high-level project design. |
| Technical Lead | Guides low-level design decisions to align with the architect’s vision. Writes code, conducts research and development, and collaborates on code reviews. |
| Software Engineer | Specializes in writing detailed code for the project and testing their own code, focusing on expected user journeys (the “happy path”). |
| QA Engineer | Tests software functionality extensively across different browsers, devices, and operating systems, assessing performance under various user behaviors. |
Source: Calcey’s Remote Team Blueprint
The Managed Model offers a distinct advantage in its adaptability, allowing companies to scale team size and capacity efficiently. For example, a startup may initially need a small team—perhaps 2 Developers, 1 QA Engineer, and a part-time Project Manager—to stay agile and maintain control over a limited development scope. In the Managed Model, these resources are carefully allocated to meet immediate needs without excess.
However, suppose the client secures funding through a Seed or Series A round and needs to accelerate their go-to-market strategy or rapidly develop new features. In that case, the Managed Model allows for seamless scaling. Additional resources can be integrated without overwhelming the client’s product manager or team. Unlike traditional body shops, where adding more people often increases the burden on management, the Managed Model ensures that new resources are fully managed and coordinated by the service provider, minimizing disruption and ensuring effective utilization.
This means your team grows in size and capacity without creating chaos or requiring additional oversight, keeping everything aligned with both short-term and long-term business goals.
Starter team
Scale-up team
Tackling Common Objections
While architects, tech leads, and developers are crucial to a project’s success, it’s important to recognize the equally vital roles of QA engineers and Project Managers, which clients may overlook when they feel they only need developers.
QA Engineers
Developers may test their own code, but they primarily focus on building features and ensuring things work under ideal conditions. A QA engineer, on the other hand, takes a different approach. Their entire role is centered around quality—testing the product in diverse environments, identifying edge cases, and ensuring the application functions smoothly under a wide range of scenarios. QA also brings expertise in test automation, something developers may not always specialize in, further improving the efficiency and reliability of the project.
Project Manager
A Project Manager plays an essential role in keeping the team coordinated and organized. They are responsible for clarifying requirements, managing timelines, and ensuring communication between all stakeholders—something that technical resources like developers and QA engineers aren’t naturally focused on. A PM prepares the work before handing it off, so developers and QA engineers can dedicate their time to building and testing rather than handling logistics and coordination. As projects grow more complex, a PM becomes crucial for maintaining efficiency and delivering on time, without overloading technical team members with non-core tasks.
Both the QA engineer and the Project Manager ensure that resources are utilized effectively, quality remains high, and the project progresses smoothly—key benefits that make the Managed Model far more reliable and scalable compared to other approaches. We speak about this in great detail in our “Remote Team Blueprint”. Be sure to check it out if you haven’t already!
How Calcey Works
At Calcey, our Managed Model goes beyond simply providing technical resources. We have a structured process designed to ensure quality, alignment, and efficient execution throughout the project lifecycle.
Code and UX Reviews
We conduct thorough code reviews to ensure adherence to best practices, clean architecture, and maintainability. These reviews involve senior engineers and architects who provide feedback on structure, performance, and security. Similarly, our UX team continuously evaluates user interfaces to ensure that design choices align with the overall user experience goals. This helps create an intuitive product that meets both functional and aesthetic needs.
Internal Sprint Demos
At the end of every sprint, we host internal demos where the team presents the progress made, even before the client sees it. This serves as a dry run to catch any inconsistencies and to ensure that all team members are aligned on the project’s direction. It’s a key checkpoint where developers, designers, and QA come together to assess the work as a unit and ensure that everything is ready for external presentation.
Internal Process Framework
To ensure consistency and quality across all projects, we follow a tailored internal framework that governs the development process. This includes detailed sprint planning, backlog grooming, automated testing setups, and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. By adhering to this framework, we ensure that quality is baked into the project from the start rather than becoming an afterthought.
Why Choose the Managed Model?
The Managed Model offers businesses a range of benefits, making it the go-to solution for companies looking to scale their development efforts with minimal oversight.
| Key Benefit | Description |
| Risk Mitigation | The partner manages risks, ensuring smooth project execution with minimal disruptions. |
| Scalability | Teams can be scaled based on project needs, ensuring flexibility. |
| End-to-End Management | The partner handles every aspect of the project, reducing client management overhead. |
| Long-Term Relationship | Continuous collaboration leads to a deeper understanding of the client’s needs. |
The Managed Model is more than just a way of delivering projects—it’s a holistic approach designed to ensure that teams work cohesively, maintain accountability, and consistently deliver value. With this model, clients get access to a dedicated, fully accountable team that integrates seamlessly into their organization, making them feel like an extension of the client’s in-house team.
The Managed Model used by Calcey is designed to build long-term partnerships with global clients by taking ownership of entire projects, from planning to ongoing maintenance. This approach allows clients to focus on the bigger picture while Calcey handles the complexities of development. With a focus on quality and efficiency, the model emphasizes continuous integration, iterative development, and frequent feedback loops to ensure projects meet the highest standards. The approach also includes dedicated, high-performance teams that are tailored to the client’s needs, ensuring clear communication and alignment of goals.
Furthermore, the Managed Model’s proven scalability supports projects of any size or complexity, from startups scaling rapidly to established enterprises looking to innovate. Calcey invests in the team’s long-term success, equipping them with the right tools and methodologies to handle evolving requirements and ensuring that the solution is scalable and future-proof.
Conclusion
The Managed Model is a comprehensive and efficient solution designed for companies that are looking to undertake complex, long-term software projects. This model offers end-to-end accountability, flexibility, and risk mitigation, allowing businesses to concentrate on their core competencies while ensuring that their projects are completed on time and within budget. With Calcey’s proven expertise in managing such projects, exemplified by successful partnerships such as Fresh Fitness Food, Stampen Media, PayPal, and The Westfield Group among others, businesses can confidently expand their development efforts, knowing they have a trusted partner overseeing every aspect of the process. The Managed Model represents the ideal solution for businesses seeking a dependable, hands-off approach to software development.