ARK Development has been able to grow from 2 to 30 development staff through the trust we have with our clients and their increased work and referrals. This trust is built upon transparent and open communication. We are a communications focused company, seeking frequent feedback from our clients and knowing that the primary factor in a successful development project is in fully understanding the goals and in sharing the expectations.
ARK Development has operations in Chicago and in Cairo. The Cairo team is connected through a Chicago phone number, persistent IM and email and an adjusted schedule that provides four-six hours of overlap in the work day. Communications are focused in the mornings, but the team is available for communication at any prearranged time.
We use four primary tools for communication:
1. Basecamp is used as a general project management tool. The complete project history and all project communication are available on Basecamp.
2. IM is used frequently for real-time communication between the client Project Manager and the Development Team. Using IM routinely rather than the phone ensures accuracy and creates a record that becomes part of the project history.
3. Email is used to set meetings and review communications and process. It is discouraged for project details.
4. Phone calls are used for kick-off meetings (if an in-person meeting is not needed), for demos/reviews, and at any time during the project when there are urgent or particularly complicated issues to discuss.
We also use software for screen sharing (GoToMeeting) as well as project management software requested by specific clients.
After working extensively hand-in-hand on a big project with ArkDev, I can HIGHLY recommend them for any web design needs. They are prompt and courteous in their communication, creative and thorough in their design work, and all around great to work with. 
