ThoughtWorks Releases Independent Study, Custom Software Enables Innovation and Differentiation

The Way Companies Select Custom Software Development Partners is Changing

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Mar 26, 2015, 11:30 ET

CHICAGO, March 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- ThoughtWorks, a global technology company, commissioned Forrester Consulting to evaluate how companies are designing, building and maintaining new customer-facing technology. The findings of the in-depth survey with 200 business and IT professionals across the UK, Australia and the United States are included in the study, "Driving Innovation Using the Right Skills: The Value of Custom Software Development."

Drive Innovation with the Right Skills: The Value of Custom Software Development. ThoughtWorks commissioned Forrester Consulting to conduct surveys with 200 business and IT professionals across the UK, Australia and the US, to evaluate how companies are designing, building and maintaining new customer-facing systems of engagement. Get the March 2015 study at info.thoughtworks.com/mix

Drive Innovation with the Right Skills: The Value of Custom Software Development. Download the March 2015 study info.thoughtworks.com/mix

The survey results show business and IT leaders are interested in much more than gaining immediate access to development skills. Businesses seek strategic partners who can help with organizational transformation and knowledge transfer to internal staff, recognizing the long term benefits of exposure to high-performance development teams. Key findings of the survey include:

87% of survey respondents state they are willing to pay more for higher performance development skills, with one in four saying they would pay a 20% premium or higher.
Nearly 50% of the companies surveyed look for external help to build software because they lack the time and skills to do so on their own.
Delivery process satisfaction rates of those surveyed falls below 50%. Clearly there is room for improvement.

The way companies approach software development is changing. Success no longer hinges on acquiring raw development capacity at the lowest cost, rather it is dependent on finding the right combination of technical skills, industry knowledge, design capability, and development and delivery skills.

"Business and IT leaders are under pressure to deliver a continuous stream of stand-out digital experiences. In this environment it's imperative technology is at the core of the business strategy," says Craig Gorsline, President and Chief Operating Officer, ThoughtWorks. "The path to digital success is complex and requires a new approach - one that is iterative and adaptive, spanning multiple levels of the organization and providing quick time-to-value."

To learn more, download the March 2015 study at info.thoughtworks.com/mix

Join @thoughtworks on Monday, March 30, 2015 at 11a.m. EDT for an online discussion featuring Forrester Vice President and Principal Analyst, Jeffrey Hammond. The 60 minute tweet jam will explore the shifting landscape of software development. For more details visit info.thoughtworks.com/mixtweetjam.

About ThoughtWorks
ThoughtWorks is a software company and community of passionate, purpose-led individuals that specialize in software consulting, delivery and products. We think disruptively to deliver technology to address our clients' toughest challenges, all while seeking to revolutionize the IT industry and create positive social change. We make pioneering tools for software teams who aspire to be great. Our products help organizations continuously improve and deliver quality software for their most critical needs.

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SOURCE ThoughtWorks