Staff augmentation vs other models
| Model | Who manages the work | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Staff augmentation | You | Filling skill gaps or adding capacity to an existing team |
| Dedicated team | Shared: the team has its own lead | A long-term product team you don’t want to hire |
| Project outsourcing | The vendor | A fixed scope with clear deliverables |
| Offshore development center | You, via a vendor-run office | Large, long-term scale (20+ people) |
Pros
- Start in weeks instead of months.
- Scale up or down with demand.
- No recruiting, benefits or severance.
Cons
- You still need strong internal leadership and specs.
- Knowledge can leave when people roll off: document as you go.
Making it work
Treat augmented developers like teammates: same standups, same code review, same access. Plan overlap hours and a clear onboarding checklist.
