Can you simply buy the provider? This may be simpler than it sounds.
Once you own it, it’s your asset and you can then attempt to fix management to focus on producing a better product.
I’ve been involved in a few attempts to do exactly what you’re talking about with varying degrees of success. Feel free to reach out to the email in my bio.
What's the use of buying a team that doesn't do management right? The only possible reason for wanting to buy a software provider and turn them into an in-house team would be if they were a stellar team, with stellar management.
Ah, but it is quite possible that they are only in the situation they are in because they are so niche and they have to focus on unnecessary new features in a vain attempt to get new business.
If you purchase them, you just focus on bug fixes and features you actually need. The developers might be great, you might find you need to get rid of management dead wood. Or it might be that you get a very nimble team who in all likelihood have been itching to fix bugs for years and yet who haven't been able to due to competing interests in the business.
> The developers might be great, you might find you need to get rid of management dead wood.
In my experience great developers do not stick with mediocre managers, because they quickly find better options. My experience with poor managers is that they are only able to retain middling engineers.
> Or it might be that you get a very nimble team who in all likelihood have been itching to fix bugs for years and yet who haven't been able to due to competing interests in the business.
That would be closer to a win scenario, but I think OP would have had a strong feel about it - from the way they describe there interactions, it doesn't seem to be the case?
Once you own it, it’s your asset and you can then attempt to fix management to focus on producing a better product.
I’ve been involved in a few attempts to do exactly what you’re talking about with varying degrees of success. Feel free to reach out to the email in my bio.