what is bridges?

In 2005, i.c.stars began offering companies and non-profit organizations technology and administrative services on behalf of our graduates through a program called Bridges. The Bridges program offers companies a turnkey solution that is generally half the cost of working with temporary contracting firms. In addition, when you participate in the Bridges program, you are supporting the next generation of i.c.stars graduates.

Technology Skill Areas

  • Data analysis with Excel and Access
  • Project management assistant
  • CMS development
  • CRM development
  • .NET development
  • Sharepoint development
  • SQL development
  • Help desk
  • Desktop/Blackberry support
  • Desktop imaging
  • Asset tracking
  • Test script writing and execution

Options

The Bridges program works with companies using four models:

  1. Staffing rotation
  2. Temp to perm
  3. Project augmentation
  4. Web site projects

Staffing Rotation

This model works similar to a staff augmentation firm to provide an easy way for bringing on entry level technology workers on a temporary and rotational basis. We request clients agree to bring on 2 FTE i.c.stars consultants that are staggered by six months. Every six months a new i.c.stars consultant rolls on and the experienced consultant rolls off or matriculates into full-time if the need is right.


Fit:

  • headcount restrictions,
  • desire for a “revolving door” of young, ambitious talent within organization,
  • heavily outsourced IT with auxiliary need for low level high touch IT services,
  • need diversity experiences for staff,
  • need culturally competent offshore resource management

Temp to perm

This model works similar to a placement firm to provide a means to evaluate talent prior to moving them into full-time positions.


Fit:

  • need for an extended try before you buy hiring process,
  • existing process in place for using temp agencies to evaluate potential hires

Project augmentation

This model is being used by companies who have large desktop imaging or refresh projects where they need lots of people for a short period of time.


Fit:

  • existing i.c.stars partners who have a well defined short term need

Web site projects

i.c.stars project teams use Drupal for rapid website and/or web application development.


Fit:

  • small business websites
  • non-profit websites
  • non-profit CRM systems and reporting services
  • large organization departmental applications that are too small for a full-service consulting firm to make the business case