Demystifying the Role of Delivery Managers: Driving Success Across Service Models

At Forte Group, delivering exceptional software outcomes begins with clarity—clarity in expectations, responsibilities, and ownership. As we continue to grow and mature in our delivery capabilities, it's critical to define the scope of responsibilities that guide our Delivery Managers (DMs). Their role is a cornerstone of our success, especially given the diversity of service types we offer.

Whether we’re supplying top-tier engineering talent, managing specific streams of work, or owning entire software products, the DM role flexes to meet the needs of each unique client engagement.

The three service models at Forte Group

Forte Group structures its software development services into three main categories:

MSA – Managed Staff Augmentation

In this model, Forte supplies skilled engineering professionals to client teams. While the client retains control over project execution, we are accountable for the quality and performance of the individuals we place. This includes:

• Selecting the right talent for the right roles.
• Supporting onboarding and initial training.
• Conducting ongoing performance tracking and satisfaction surveys (from both client and team members).

Here, the DM ensures a seamless experience, enabling high-performing staff to integrate smoothly into the client’s environment.

MES – Managed Engineering Services
This service type represents a step forward in accountability. Forte owns a distinct stream of work within the client's ecosystem. Our team works independently—often with its own backlog, tooling, and cadence—and is responsible for the outcomes of that stream.

The Delivery Manager, in this setup, is charged with orchestrating team performance and deliverables. Success depends not just on staffing, but on how well the team delivers value through structure, process, and quality.

MPR – Managed Product
This is the most comprehensive model, where Forte Group owns the entire product lifecycle on behalf of the client. From ideation and roadmap planning to development, deployment, and ongoing support, every aspect of the product is managed within Forte.

Our clients like Lender.com are prime examples—where Forte Group handles everything from product ownership, software engineering, quality to devops and release management. The client typically maintains a high-level stakeholder role (e.g., CTO/CPO), while Forte takes full responsibility for product outcomes.

What does it take to be a Delivery Manager at Forte Group?

To operate effectively across these models, especially in high-complexity MPR engagements, DMs must bring a broad skill set. This doesn’t mean being a deep technical expert in every area, but having enough understanding to evaluate, facilitate, and lead cross-functional teams.

Key Areas of Expertise for Forte Group's Delivery Managers:

• Client & Team Relationship Management: From recruitment and onboarding to retention and career pathing, the DM ensures a strong connection between Forte and its people—and between Forte and the client.
• Product Ownership & Project Management: The DM tracks and enforces product backlogs, roadmaps, and KPIs. They need to be able to assess the effectiveness of a product owner, ensure backlog hygiene, and align engineering priorities with business goals.
• Solution Architecture & Software Engineering: While not expected to write production code or design entire systems, DMs should understand core modern architectural principles and development practices to ensure quality and scalability of software solutions.
• Quality Assurance: This is often a critical weak spot in agile teams. DMs must ensure robust QA processes are in place—shifted left, automated, structured, and focused on both functional quality and visual polish. It’s not just about “does it work?”—but “does it feel right for the user?”
• DevOps & Site Reliability Engineering (SRE): Understanding the essentials of CI/CD, cloud infrastructure, monitoring, and alerting is vital. Whether it’s DataDog, Azure AppInsights, or New Relic, DMs must ensure teams are equipped with the right tools to deploy safely and monitor effectively.
• Release Management & Engineering Support: Especially in full product ownership models, managing what goes live—and when—is a critical success factor. DMs are expected to bring structure and predictability to releases and support, reducing risk and minimizing issue response and resolution time.
  
  

Scaling with confidence

Ultimately, the role of a Delivery Manager at Forte Group is as dynamic as the services we provide. In simpler engagements, it’s about people and performance. In complex product ownership scenarios, it's about end-to-end accountability—covering architecture, QA, DevOps, and more.

As our teams grow and our clients’ needs evolve, Forte Group’s DMs remain central to the delivery experience. They're the stewards of quality, the glue between disciplines, and the leaders who make sure that when Forte Group owns something, we own it with excellence.

Ready to see what delivery excellence looks like?

At Forte Group, we don’t just manage projects—we take ownership of outcomes. Whether you’re looking to scale your engineering capabilities, streamline delivery, or launch an entire product, our Delivery Managers are built for accountability and results.

Let’s talk about how our DMs can plug into your team and deliver real business outcomes.

📩 Let’s connect. Reach out to delivery@fortegrp.com or schedule a quick chat with our delivery leadership team.