Outsourcing differs from other development because there is bound to be a contractual relationship, probably a geographic distance, a different sense of loyalty, language misunderstandings, cultural differences, reluctance to speak up to the client – and many other associated problems. Good requirements are always a problem, but outsourcing increases the problems, and makes even great demands on the requirements specification. The payoff for doing good requirements is greater, and the penalty for not doing them is more threatening.
