MSNBC.COM

	Harvey Nash Offshore took me seriously when I asked for their very best people – I got not just two or three of the best, but a whole team.
	JoAnne Kennedy, Director of Product Development, msnbc.com

Msnbc.com, a joint venture between Microsoft and NBC Universal, delivers a full spectrum of online news. Combining award-winning original journalism and advanced technology, the site presents compelling, diverse and visually-engaging stories on one of the most popular news websites in the US.

Product development is essential to sustain its position, and Jo-Anne Kennedy, Director of Product Development, is always seeking ways to diversify and expand its software engineering talent pool.

She explains: “Most of our product development is in-house, and we have a successful facility in Shanghai. But we saw an enormous opportunity in Vietnam because of the ready supply of highly-qualified engineering graduates.”

Around 18 months ago, Kennedy was talking to a Harvey Nash representative about using an onshore software development resource close to Seattle, but her interest was sparked by an article he sent her about Harvey Nash Offshore in Vietnam. Kennedy visited Harvey Nash in Vietnam, and was impressed by the level of product development, quality control and, crucially, the quality of staff.

“We decided to dip our toe in the water with a 90-day trial of a software development tester,” she recalls. “It was very positive and gave me confidence to move forward, and we now have 16 Harvey Nash Offshore people working on our business.”

Kennedy says she has been equally impressed by Harvey Nash’s responsiveness. “They took me seriously when I asked for their very best people – I got not just two or three of the best, but a whole team,” she says.

Kennedy says it usually takes around nine to twelve months to see a real return on investment in offshoring and for the new team to operate fully independently. “But I see this as a partnership. Harvey Nash understands our culture, and when we give instructions they understand and ask proper questions and offer alternative solutions. That level of professionalism at the management level gives me real peace of mind and represents the real value-added.”

Kennedy claims she is “very excited” about msnbc.com’s ongoing relationship with Harvey Nash. “I am interested in the other countries they are getting into as well. I want the best and brightest resources from around the world to work on my team.”