Hiring A Development Shop/Agency Part 2
Picking a development shop is similar to hiring a developer. Being able to mesh culturally with your own company and work style is just as important as their skill. A local shop is ideal as you can visit and talk through problems face to face. International shops can often be cheaper, but with language gaps and time zone differences it can be difficult to communicate effectively.
When you outsource work you don't need to hand off the entire app. Depending on the capabilities of your team and your timeline, what you decide to outsource can vary. If you happen to have a designer on your team, you can keep the design in house and the development outsourced.
Working with a development shop on only a single feature can be coordinated as well. How much to outsource depends on your own resources, time, and money.