Fine-grained authorization for APIs with NestJS and OpenFGA

1. Introduction
   1. What is Fine-Grained Authorization (FGA)?
   2. Understanding NestJS, OpenFGA, and Auth0
   3. Diving deeper into OpenFGA

1. Implemeantation
   1. Setting Up a Basic NestJS Project
   2. Integrating Auth0 for Authentication
   3. Implementing OpenFGA for Authorization

1. Conclusion
   1. Key Takeaways
   2. Benefits of This Approach
   3. Final Thoughts

Introduction

As modern applications grow in complexity, managing user access and permissions becomes increasingly challenging. Traditional role-based access control (RBAC) often falls short when dealing with intricate scenarios, such as multi-tenant platforms, collaborative tools, or resource-specific permissions. This is where Fine-Grained Authorization (FGA) comes into play, offering a powerful and flexible way to manage who can do what within your application.

What is Fine-Grained Authorization (FGA)?

Fine-Grained Authorization goes beyond simple roles like “admin” or “user.” It enables you to define and enforce detailed access rules based on relationships between users, resources, and actions. For example:

• “Alice can edit Document A because she is a member of Team X.”
• “Bob has admin access to Project Y because he owns it.”

FGA systems allow for:

• Relationship-Based Access Control (ReBAC): Defining permissions based on dynamic relationships (e.g., ownership, team membership, or project assignments).
• Scalability: Handling thousands of users, roles, and permissions without performance degradation.
• Flexibility: Supporting complex, domain-specific rules that adapt to your application’s needs.

This article guides you through setting up an FGA authorization for API’s using NestJS, Auth0, and OpenFGA.

By the end of this guide, you will clearly understand how these tools work together to build a secure and efficient permissions system.

We will build an example application for managing users’ access to projects. Projects will have three levels of permissions:

• Owner: Full access to the project.
• Admin: Can add members and view the project.
• Member: Can only view the project.

Understanding NestJS, OpenFGA, and Auth0

Before diving into the implementation, it’s essential to understand the roles each tool plays:

• NestJS: A versatile and scalable framework for building server-side applications. It leverages TypeScript and incorporates features like dependency injection, making it a favorite among developers for building robust APIs.
• OpenFGA: An open-source authorization system that provides fine-grained access control. It allows you to define complex permission models and manage them efficiently.
• Auth0: A cloud-based authentication and authorization service. It simplifies user authentication, offering features like social login, single sign-on, and multifactor authentication.

When combined, these tools allow you to create a secure backend where Auth0 handles user authentication, OpenFGA manages authorization, and NestJS serves as the backbone of your application.

This article assumes that you have some understanding of NestJS and Auth0 (and OAuth in general) but for OpenFGA I will give a basic intro.

Diving deeper into OpenFGA

OpenFGA is a modern authorization system built for handling complex access control with simplicity and flexibility. Inspired by Google Zanzibar, it provides fine-grained, relationship-based access control, letting you define “who can do what and why.” This makes it ideal for applications with intricate permission hierarchies, like multi-tenant platforms or collaborative tools.

At its core are two key concepts: authorization models and stores. Models define relationships between users, roles, and resources—like “John is an admin of Project X” or “Alice can edit Document Y because she’s in Team Z.” Stores serve as isolated containers for these models and their data, keeping systems clean and scalable.

Core Concepts of OpenFGA

Authorization rules are configured in OpenFGA using an authorization model which is a combination of one or more type definitions. Type is a category of objects in the system and type definition defines all possible relations a user or another object can have in relation to this type. Relations are defined by relation definitions, which list the conditions or requirements under which a relationship is possible.

An object represents an instance of a type. While a user represents an actor in the system. The notion of a user is not limited to the common meaning of “user”. It could be

• any identifier: e.g. user:gganebnyi
• any object: e.g. project:nestjs-openfga or organization:FusionWorks
• a group or a set of users (also called a userset): e.g. organization:FusionWorks#members, which represents the set of users related to the object organization:FusionWorks as member
• everyone, using the special syntax: *

Authorization data is stored in OpenFGA as relationship tuples. They specify a specific user-object-relation combination. Combined with the authorization model they allow checking user relationships to certain objects, which is then used in application authorization flow. In OpenFGA relationships could be direct (defined by tuples) or implied (computed from combining tuples and model).

Let’s illustrate this with a model we will use in our sample project.

model
  schema 1.1
  
type user

type project
  relations
    define admin: [user] or owner
    define member: [user] or admin
    define owner: [user]

[
  {
    "user": "user:johndoe",
    "relation": "member",
    "object": "project:FusionAI"
  },
  {
    "user": "user:gganebnyi",
    "relation": "owner",
    "object": "project:FusionAI"
  }
]

Based on this user “user:johndoe“ has direct relationship “member“ with object “project:FusionAI“, while for user “user:gganebnyi“ this relationship is implied based on his direct relationship “owner“ with this object.

At runtime, both the authorization model and relationship tuples are stored in the OpenFGA store. OpenFGA provides API for managing this data and performing authorization checks against it.

While this quick intro gives us enough information to proceed with further implementation, I strongly recommend checking Authorization Concepts | OpenFGA and Concepts | OpenFGA.

Implementation

The full project source code is located in our GitHub repo. You can check it out and use it for reference while reading the article. If you are familiar with NestJS and Auth0 setup, please skip right to the OpenFGA part.

Setting Up a Basic NestJS Project

Let’s start by setting up a basic NestJS project. Ensure you have Node.js and npm installed, then proceed with the following commands:

# Install NestJS CLI globally
npm install -g @nestjs/cli

# Create a new NestJS project
nest new nestjs-auth0-openfga

# Getting inside project folder and install dependencies we have so far
cd nestjs-auth0-openfga
npm install

# We will use MongoDB to store our data
npm install @nestjs/mongoose mongoose

# For easier use of environment variables
npm install @nestjs/config

# Adding Swagger for API documentation and testing
npm install @nestjs/swagger swagger-ui-express

This gives us all the NestJS components we need so far installed. The next step is to create our Projects Rest API.

# Generate Projects Module
nest generate module projects
nest generate service projects
nest generate controller projects

This will scaffold NestJS artifacts for Projects API and update app.module.ts file.
The next step is to create the Project’s Mongoose schema and implement projects Service and ProjectsController.

projects/schemas/project.schema.ts

import { Prop, Schema, SchemaFactory } from "@nestjs/mongoose";
import { Document, HydratedDocument } from "mongoose";
export type ProjectDocument = HydratedDocument<Project>;

@Schema({
  toObject: {
    virtuals: true,
  },
})

export class Project {
  @Prop({ required: true })
  name: string;
}

export const ProjectSchema = SchemaFactory.createForClass(Project);

projects/projects.service.ts

import { Injectable, NotFoundException } from '@nestjs/common';
import { InjectModel } from '@nestjs/mongoose';
import { Model } from 'mongoose';
import { Project, ProjectDocument } from './schemas/project.schema';
import { CreateProjectDto } from './dto/create-project.dto';

@Injectable()
export class ProjectsService {
  constructor(
    @InjectModel(Project.name) private projectModel: Model<ProjectDocument>,
  ) { }

  async findOne(id: string): Promise<ProjectDocument> {
    const project = await this.projectModel.findById(id).exec();
    if (!project) {
      throw new NotFoundException(`Project with ID ${id} not found`);
    }
    return project;
  }

  async create(createProjectDto: CreateProjectDto): Promise<ProjectDocument> {
    const createdProject = new this.projectModel(createProjectDto);
    return createdProject.save();
  }

  async findAll(): Promise<ProjectDocument[]> {
    return this.projectModel.findAll().exec();
  }
}

projects/projects.controller.ts

import {
  Controller,
  Get,
  Post,
  Body,
  Param,
  UseGuards,
  Delete,
  UseInterceptors,
  ClassSerializerInterceptor,
} from '@nestjs/common';
import { ProjectsService } from './projects.service';
import { CreateProjectDto } from './dto/create-project.dto';
import { ApiCreatedResponse, ApiOkResponse } from '@nestjs/swagger';
import { ProjectDto } from './dto/project.dto';

@Controller('projects')
@UseInterceptors(ClassSerializerInterceptor)
export class ProjectsController {
  constructor(
    private readonly projectsService: ProjectsService,
  ) { }

  /**
   * Get all projects.
   */
  @Get()
  @ApiOkResponse({ type: ProjectDto, isArray: true })
  async getProjects(): Promise<ProjectDto[]> {
    const projects = await this.projectsService.findAll();
    return projects.map((project) => ProjectDto.fromDocument(project));
  }

  /**
   * Get a project by ID.
   */
  @Get(':id')
  @ApiOkResponse({ type: ProjectDto })
  async getProject(@Param('id') id: string): Promise<ProjectDto> {
    const project = await this.projectsService.findOne(id);
    return ProjectDto.fromDocument(project);
  }

  /**
   * Create a new project.
   */
  @Post()
  async createProject(@Body() createProjectDto: CreateProjectDto) {
    const project = await this.projectsService.create(createProjectDto);
    return ProjectDto.fromDocument(project);
  }
}

projects/projects.module.ts

import { Module } from '@nestjs/common';
import { MongooseModule } from '@nestjs/mongoose';
import { ProjectsController } from './projects.controller';
import { ProjectsService } from './projects.service';
import { Project, ProjectSchema } from './schemas/project.schema';
import { ConfigModule } from '@nestjs/config';

@Module({
  imports: [
    MongooseModule.forFeature([{ name: Project.name, schema: ProjectSchema }]),
    ConfigModule,
  ],
  controllers: [ProjectsController],
  providers: [ProjectsService],
})
export class ProjectsModule { }

app.module.ts

import { Module } from '@nestjs/common';
import { ConfigModule } from '@nestjs/config';
import { ProjectsModule } from './projects/projects.module';
import { MongooseModule } from '@nestjs/mongoose';

@Module({
  imports: [
    ConfigModule.forRoot({ isGlobal: true }),
    ProjectsModule,
    MongooseModule.forRoot(process.env.MONGODB_URI),
  ],
  controllers: [],
  providers: [],
})
export class AppModule {}

As you may notice, the controller uses DTOs, ClassValidator, and ClassTransformer to control its input/output. DTOs are also important for proper Swagger documentation. I am committing them here for brevity but you can see them here: nestjs-openfga-example/src/projects/dto at master · FusionWorks/nestjs-openfga-example.

The last thing is to activate Swagger and set environment variables.

main.ts

import { NestFactory } from '@nestjs/core';
import { AppModule } from './app.module';
import { ValidationPipe } from '@nestjs/common';
import { DocumentBuilder, SwaggerModule } from '@nestjs/swagger';
import { ConfigService } from '@nestjs/config';
async function bootstrap() {

  const app = await NestFactory.create(AppModule);
  const configService = new ConfigService();

  app.useGlobalPipes(new ValidationPipe({ whitelist: true, transform: true }));

  const options = new DocumentBuilder()
    .setTitle('API')
    .setDescription('The API description')
    .setVersion('1.0')
    .addTag('API')
    .build();
  const document = SwaggerModule.createDocument(app, options);
  SwaggerModule.setup('api', app, document);

  const port = process.env.PORT || 3000;
  await app.listen(port);

  console.log(`Application is running on: ${await app.getUrl()}`);
}
bootstrap();

.env

# MongoDB Configuration
MONGODB_URI=mongodb://YOUR_USER:PASSWORD@HOST:PORT

# Application Port
PORT=3000

Our basic app is ready. You can launch it with npm run start:dev and access Swagger UI via http://localhost:3000/api/ to try the API.

Integrating Auth0 for Authentication

Authentication is the first step in securing your application. Auth0 simplifies this process by handling user authentication, allowing you to focus on building your application logic. Auth0 is a SaaS solution and you need to register at https://auth0.com to use it. To integrate Auth0 we will install PassportJS and configure it. Here are the steps.

Install required packages

npm install @nestjs/passport passport passport-jwt jwks-rsa

Create an auth module to manage authentication (this will also add it to app.module.ts)

nest generate module auth

auth/auth.module.ts

import { Module } from '@nestjs/common';
import { JwtStrategy } from './jwt.strategy';

@Module({
  providers: [JwtStrategy],
  exports: [],
})
export class AuthModule {}

Implement JWT strategy

auth/jwt.strategy.ts

import { Injectable } from '@nestjs/common';
import { PassportStrategy } from '@nestjs/passport';
import { ExtractJwt, Strategy } from 'passport-jwt';
import * as jwksRsa from 'jwks-rsa';
import { ConfigService } from '@nestjs/config';

@Injectable()
export class JwtStrategy extends PassportStrategy(Strategy) {
  constructor(private configService: ConfigService) {
    super({
      jwtFromRequest: ExtractJwt.fromAuthHeaderAsBearerToken(),
      secretOrKeyProvider: jwksRsa.passportJwtSecret({
        cache: true,
        rateLimit: true,
        jwksRequestsPerMinute: 10,
        jwksUri: `https://${configService.get<string>('AUTH0_DOMAIN')}/.well-known/jwks.json`,
      }),
      audience: configService.get<string>('AUTH0_AUDIENCE'),
      issuer: `https://${configService.get<string>('AUTH0_DOMAIN')}/`,
      algorithms: ['RS256'],
    });
  }

  async validate(payload: any) {
    return payload;
  }
}

Create JwtAuthGuard

auth/jwt-auth.guard.ts

import { Injectable } from '@nestjs/common';
import { AuthGuard } from '@nestjs/passport';

@Injectable()
export class JwtAuthGuard extends AuthGuard('jwt') {}

And use it to protect controller routes

projects/projects.controller.ts

...

import { JwtAuthGuard } from '../auth/jwt-auth.guard';
...
import { ApiBearerAuth, ApiCreatedResponse, ApiOkResponse } from '@nestjs/swagger';
...

@ApiBearerAuth('Auth0')
@Controller('projects')
@UseGuards(JwtAuthGuard)
@UseInterceptors(ClassSerializerInterceptor)
export class ProjectsController {
...
}

As a final step, we need to update the app configuration

.env

...

# Auth0 Configuration
AUTH0_DOMAIN=YOUR_AUTH0_DOMAIN.eu.auth0.com
AUTH0_AUDIENCE=YOUR_AUTH0_API_AUDIENCE
AUTH0_OAUTH_CLIENT_ID=YOUR_AUTH0_CLEINTID

...

Now Project API will require you to pass valid authentication information to invoke its methods. This is done by setting Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN header, where YOUR_TOKEN is obtained during the Auth0 authentication flow.

To make our testing of API easier let’s add Auth0 authentication support to Swagger UI

main.ts

import { NestFactory } from '@nestjs/core';
import { AppModule } from './app.module';
import { ValidationPipe } from '@nestjs/common';
import { DocumentBuilder, SwaggerModule } from '@nestjs/swagger';
import { ConfigService } from '@nestjs/config';

async function bootstrap() {
  const app = await NestFactory.create(AppModule);
  const configService = new ConfigService();

  app.useGlobalPipes(new ValidationPipe({ whitelist: true, transform: true }));

  const options = new DocumentBuilder()
    .setTitle('API')
    .setDescription('The API description')
    .setVersion('1.0')
    .addTag('API')
    .addOAuth2(
      {
        type: 'oauth2',
        flows: {
          implicit: {
            authorizationUrl: `https://${configService.get(
              'AUTH0_DOMAIN',
            )}/authorize?audience=${configService.get('AUTH0_AUDIENCE')}`,
            tokenUrl: configService.get('AUTH0_AUDIENCE'),
            scopes: {
              openid: 'Open Id',
              profile: 'Profile',
              email: 'E-mail',
            },
          },
        },
        scheme: 'bearer',
        bearerFormat: 'JWT',
        in: 'header',
      },
      'Auth0',
    )
    .build();

  const document = SwaggerModule.createDocument(app, options);
  SwaggerModule.setup('api', app, document, {
    swaggerOptions: {
      initOAuth: {
        clientId: configService.get('AUTH0_OAUTH_CLIENT_ID'),
      },
    },
  });

  const port = process.env.PORT || 3000;
  await app.listen(port);

  console.log(`Application is running on: ${await app.getUrl()}`);
}
bootstrap();

As a result, the Authorize option will appear in Swagger UI and the Authorization header will be attached to all requests.

Implementing OpenFGA for Authorization

With authentication in place, the next step is managing authorization using OpenFGA. We’ll design our authorization model, integrate OpenFGA into NestJS, and build permission guards to enforce access control.

Since OpenFGA is a service you either need to install it locally (Docker Setup Guide | OpenFGA ) or use a hosted analog like Okta FGA. For this tutorial, I recommend using Okta FGA since it has a UI for designing and testing models and managing relationship tuples.

As the first step to implementing authorization, we will define our authorization model and save it in Okta FGA

model
  schema 1.1

type user

type project
  relations
    define admin: [user] or owner
    define member: [user] or admin
    define owner: [user]

The next step is to create Okta FGA API client

And update our .env with its parameters

...

FGA_API_URL='https://api.eu1.fga.dev' # depends on your account jurisdiction
FGA_STORE_ID=
FGA_MODEL_ID=
FGA_API_TOKEN_ISSUER="auth.fga.dev"
FGA_API_AUDIENCE='https://api.eu1.fga.dev/' # depends on your account jurisdiction
FGA_CLIENT_ID=
FGA_CLIENT_SECRET=

... 

Now we install OpenFGA SDK and create an authorization module in our app

npm install @openfga/sdk
nest generate module authorization
nest generate service authorization

Next, we implement AuthorizationService around OpenFGA API. It provides methods to check user relationships and manipulate them. Below is the code for the service itself, for small artifacts referenced in the service class please check nestjs-openfga-example/src/authorization at master · FusionWorks/nestjs-openfga-example.

authorization/authorization.service.ts

import { Injectable, ForbiddenException, Logger } from '@nestjs/common';
import { OpenFgaClient, CredentialsMethod, TupleKey } from '@openfga/sdk';
import { ConfigService } from '@nestjs/config';
import { AuthorizationPartyTypes } from './authorization-types.enum';
import { AuthorizationRelations } from './authorization-relations.enum';
import { AuthorizationParty } from './authorization-party';

@Injectable()
export class AuthorizationService {

  private readonly logger = new Logger(AuthorizationService.name);
  private client: OpenFgaClient;

  constructor(private readonly configService: ConfigService) {
    this.client = new OpenFgaClient({
      apiUrl: this.configService.get<string>('FGA_API_URL'),
      storeId: this.configService.get<string>('FGA_STORE_ID'),
      credentials: {
        method: CredentialsMethod.ClientCredentials,
        config: {
          clientId: this.configService.get<string>('FGA_CLIENT_ID'),
          clientSecret: this.configService.get<string>('FGA_CLIENT_SECRET'),
          apiTokenIssuer: this.configService.get<string>('FGA_API_TOKEN_ISSUER'),
          apiAudience: this.configService.get<string>('FGA_API_AUDIENCE'),
        },
      },
    });
  }

  async checkPermission(
    userId: string,
    permission: string,
    objectType: string,
    objectId: string,
  ): Promise<boolean> {
    try {
      const response = await this.client.check({
        user: `${AuthorizationPartyTypes.USER}:${userId}`,
        relation: permission,
        object: `${objectType}:${objectId}`,
      });
      return response.allowed;
    } catch (error) {
      return false;
    }
  }

  async listObjectIds(user: AuthorizationParty, objectType: AuthorizationPartyTypes, relation: AuthorizationRelations): Promise<string[]> {
    const request = {
      user: user.toOpenFgaString(),
      relation,
      type: objectType
    };
    const response = await this.client.listObjects(request);
    return response.objects.map((object) => object.split(':')[1]);
  }

  async listUsers(object: AuthorizationParty, relations: AuthorizationRelations[]): Promise<{ userId: string; relations: string[] }[]> {
    const responses = await Promise.all(
      relations.map(async (relation) => {
        const response = await this.client.listUsers({
          object: object.toOpenFgaObject(),
          relation,
          user_filters: [
            {
              type: AuthorizationPartyTypes.USER,
            },
          ],
        });
        return { relation, users: response.users };
      })
    );

    const userRolesMap = responses.reduce((acc, { relation, users }) => {
      users.forEach(user => {
        const userId = user.object.id;
        if (!acc[userId]) {
          acc[userId] = new Set<string>();
        }
        acc[userId].add(relation);
      });
      return acc;
    }, {} as Record<string, Set<string>>);

    const aggregatedUsers = Object.entries(userRolesMap).map(([userId, rolesSet]) => ({
      userId,
      relations: Array.from(rolesSet),
    }));

    return aggregatedUsers;
  }

  async addRelationship(user: AuthorizationParty, object: AuthorizationParty, relationship: AuthorizationRelations): Promise<void> {
    const tupleKey: TupleKey = {
      user: user.toOpenFgaString(),
      relation: relationship,
      object: object.toOpenFgaString(),
    };
    await this.client.write({
      writes: [tupleKey],
    });
  }

  async removeRelationship(user: AuthorizationParty, object: AuthorizationParty, relationship: AuthorizationRelations): Promise<void> {
    const tupleKey: TupleKey = {
      user: user.toOpenFgaString(),
      relation: relationship,
      object: object.toOpenFgaString(),
    };
    await this.client.write({
      deletes: [tupleKey],
    });
  }
}

Now we can implement PermissionsGuard and PermissionsDecorator to be used on our controllers. PermissionsGuard will extract the object ID from the request URL, body, or query parameters and based on object type and required relation from the decorator and user ID from authentication data perform a relationship check in OpenFGA.

authorization/permissions.decorator.ts

import { SetMetadata } from '@nestjs/common';

export const PERMISSIONS_KEY = 'permissions';

export type Permission = {
  permission: string;
  objectType: string;
  objectIdParam: string; // The name of the route parameter containing the object ID
};

export const Permissions = (...permissions: Permission[]) =>
  SetMetadata(PERMISSIONS_KEY, permissions);

authorization/permissions.guard.ts

import {
  Injectable,
  CanActivate,
  ExecutionContext,
  ForbiddenException,
} from '@nestjs/common';
import { Reflector } from '@nestjs/core';
import { PERMISSIONS_KEY, Permission } from './permissions.decorator';
import { AuthorizationService } from './authorization.service';
import { ConfigService } from '@nestjs/config';

@Injectable()
export class PermissionsGuard implements CanActivate {
  constructor(
    private reflector: Reflector,
    private authzService: AuthorizationService,
    private configService: ConfigService,
  ) { }

  async canActivate(context: ExecutionContext): Promise<boolean> {
    const permissions = this.reflector.get<Permission[]>(
      PERMISSIONS_KEY,
      context.getHandler(),
    );
    if (!permissions) {
      return true; // No permissions required
    }

    const request = context.switchToHttp().getRequest();
    const user = request.user;
    if (!user) {
      throw new ForbiddenException('No user found in request');
    }

    for (const permission of permissions) {
      let objectId: string;
      // Check where the objectIdParam is located: params, query, or body
      if (request.params && request.params[permission.objectIdParam]) {
        objectId = request.params[permission.objectIdParam];
      } else if (request.query && request.query[permission.objectIdParam]) {
        objectId = request.query[permission.objectIdParam];
      } else if (request.body && request.body[permission.objectIdParam]) {
        objectId = request.body[permission.objectIdParam];
      } else {
        throw new ForbiddenException(
          `Cannot find parameter '${permission.objectIdParam}' in request`,
        );
      }

      const hasPermission = await this.authzService.checkPermission(
        user.sub,
        permission.permission,
        permission.objectType,
        objectId,
      );
      if (!hasPermission) {
        throw new ForbiddenException(
          `Insufficient permissions for ${permission.permission} on ${permission.objectType}`,
        );
      }
    }
    return true;
  }
}

Now let’s see how this integrates with ProjectsController. Besides permissions checking, we will also add the project creator as the Owner and give him and the project admins the possibility to manipulate project members. For easier user extraction from the authentication context, we added a User decorator.

auth/user.decorator.ts

import { createParamDecorator, ExecutionContext } from '@nestjs/common';

export const User = createParamDecorator(
  (data: unknown, ctx: ExecutionContext) => {
    const request = ctx.switchToHttp().getRequest();
    return request.user;
  },
);

projects/projects.controller.ts

import {
  Controller,
  Get,
  Post,
  Body,
  Param,
  UseGuards,
  Delete,
  UseInterceptors,
  ClassSerializerInterceptor,
} from '@nestjs/common';
import { JwtAuthGuard } from '../auth/jwt-auth.guard';
import { PermissionsGuard } from '../authorization/permissions.guard';
import { Permissions } from '../authorization/permissions.decorator';
import { ProjectsService } from './projects.service';
import { AuthorizationService } from '../authorization/authorization.service';
import { AuthorizationParty } from '../authorization/authorization-party';
import { AuthorizationPartyTypes } from '../authorization/authorization-types.enum';
import { AuthorizationRelations } from '../authorization/authorization-relations.enum';
import { CreateProjectDto } from './dto/create-project.dto';
import { User } from 'src/auth/user.decorator';
import { AddProjectMemberDto } from './dto/add-project-member.dto';
import { DeleteProjectMemberDto } from './dto/delete-project-member.dto';
import { ApiBearerAuth, ApiCreatedResponse, ApiOkResponse } from '@nestjs/swagger';
import { ProjectDto } from './dto/project.dto';
import { MemberDto } from './dto/member.dto';

@ApiBearerAuth('Auth0')
@Controller('projects')
@UseGuards(JwtAuthGuard, PermissionsGuard)
@UseInterceptors(ClassSerializerInterceptor)
export class ProjectsController {
  constructor(
    private readonly projectsService: ProjectsService,
    private readonly authorizationService: AuthorizationService,
  ) { }

  /**
   * Get all projects.
   */
  @Get()
  @ApiOkResponse({ type: ProjectDto, isArray: true })
  async getProjects(@User() currentUser): Promise<ProjectDto[]> {
    const user = new AuthorizationParty(AuthorizationPartyTypes.USER, currentUser.sub);
    const projectIds = await this.authorizationService.listObjectIds(
      user,
      AuthorizationPartyTypes.PROJECT,
      AuthorizationRelations.MEMBER,
    );
    const projects = await this.projectsService.findAll(projectIds);
    return projects.map((project) => ProjectDto.fromDocument(project));
  }

  /**
   * Get a project by ID.
   */
  @Get(':id')
  @ApiOkResponse({ type: ProjectDto })
  @Permissions({
    permission: AuthorizationRelations.MEMBER,
    objectType: 'project',
    objectIdParam: 'id',
  })
  async getProject(@Param('id') id: string): Promise<ProjectDto> {
    const project = await this.projectsService.findOne(id);
    return ProjectDto.fromDocument(project);
  }

  /**
   * Create a new project.
   */
  @Post()
  @ApiCreatedResponse({ type: ProjectDto })
  async createProject(@Body() createProjectDto: CreateProjectDto, @User() currentUser) {
    const project = await this.projectsService.create(createProjectDto);
    const userId = currentUser.sub;
    const user = new AuthorizationParty(AuthorizationPartyTypes.USER, userId);
    const object = new AuthorizationParty(AuthorizationPartyTypes.PROJECT, project.id);
    await this.authorizationService.addRelationship(
      user,
      object,
      AuthorizationRelations.OWNER,
    );
    return ProjectDto.fromDocument(project);
  }

  /**
   * List all members of a project.
   */
  @Get(':id/members')
  @ApiOkResponse({ type: String, isArray: true })
  @Permissions({
    permission: AuthorizationRelations.MEMBER,
    objectType: AuthorizationPartyTypes.PROJECT,
    objectIdParam: 'id',
  })
  async listMembers(@Param('id') projectId: string): Promise<MemberDto[]> {
    const project = new AuthorizationParty(
      AuthorizationPartyTypes.PROJECT,
      projectId,
    );
    const relations = [
      AuthorizationRelations.MEMBER,
      AuthorizationRelations.OWNER,
      AuthorizationRelations.ADMIN
    ];
    return (await this.authorizationService.listUsers(project, relations)).map(
      (user) => {
        return {
          userId: user.userId,
          roles: user.relations.map((role) => role.toString()),
        }
      }
    );
  }

  /**
   * Assign a member to a project.
   * Requires 'admin' permission on the project.
   */
  @Post(':id/members')
  @Permissions({
    permission: AuthorizationRelations.ADMIN,
    objectType: AuthorizationPartyTypes.PROJECT,
    objectIdParam: 'id',
  })
  async addMember(
    @Param('id') projectId: string,
    @Body() addMemberDto: AddProjectMemberDto,
  ) {
    const { userId, role } = addMemberDto;
    const user = new AuthorizationParty(AuthorizationPartyTypes.USER, userId);
    const project = new AuthorizationParty(
      AuthorizationPartyTypes.PROJECT,
      projectId,
    );
    await this.authorizationService.addRelationship(user, project, role);
    return { message: 'Ok' };
  }

  /**
   * Remove a member from a project.
   * Requires 'admin' permission on the project.
   */
  @Delete(':id/members')
  @Permissions({
    permission: AuthorizationRelations.ADMIN,
    objectType: AuthorizationPartyTypes.PROJECT,
    objectIdParam: 'id',
  })
  async removeMember(
    @Param('id') projectId: string,
    @Body() deleteMemberDto: DeleteProjectMemberDto,
  ) {
    const { userId } = deleteMemberDto;
    const user = new AuthorizationParty(AuthorizationPartyTypes.USER, userId);
    const project = new AuthorizationParty(
      AuthorizationPartyTypes.PROJECT,
      projectId,
    );
    await this.authorizationService.removeRelationship(user, project, deleteMemberDto.role);
    return { message: 'Ok' };
  }
}

Now if we try to access a project, that we are not a part of we will get an HTTP 403 exception:

Conclusion

In today’s fast-paced web development landscape, establishing a reliable permissions management system is essential for both security and functionality. This article demonstrated how to build such a system by integrating NestJS, OpenFGA, and Auth0.

Key Takeaways

• NestJS provided a scalable and structured framework for developing the backend, ensuring maintainable and robust API development.
• Auth0 streamlined the authentication process, offering features like social login and multifactor authentication without the complexity of building them from scratch.
• OpenFGA enabled fine-grained access control, allowing precise management of user roles and permissions, ensuring that each user—whether Owner, Admin, or Member—has appropriate access levels.

Benefits of This Approach

1. Enhanced Security: Clearly defined roles reduce the risk of unauthorized access, protecting sensitive project data.
2. Scalability: The combination of NestJS, OpenFGA, and Auth0 ensures the system can grow with your application.
3. Maintainability: Using industry-standard tools with clear separations of concern makes the system easier to manage and extend.
4. Flexibility: OpenFGA’s detailed access control accommodates complex permission requirements and evolving business needs.

Final Thoughts

Building a secure and efficient permissions management system is crucial for modern web applications. By leveraging NestJS, OpenFGA, and Auth0, developers can create a robust backend that meets current security standards and adapts to future challenges. Implementing these tools will help ensure your applications are both secure and scalable, providing a solid foundation for growth in an ever-evolving digital environment.

Moldova DevCon: why it’s for you?

Moldova DevCon is the largest and most prestigious event for developers in Moldova. Bringing together top engineers, tech leaders, and industry giants from across the globe, #MDC offers 2 days of engaging presentations, hands-on workshops, and networking opportunities at the stunning Arena Chisinau, the biggest venue in the country!

We’ve prepared for you something huge this year — a new venue, format, and scale. But why you should be there? Let’s see.

#1 Learn from companies and engineers from all over the world

IBM, Amazon, Electrolux, ASML, Pirate, Germany, Netherlands, South Africa, Sweden, Finland, Croatia, Serbia, North Macedonia, Romania and Moldova — this is the new scale of Moldova DevCon 2024. And you’ll be a part of it.

At #MDC you can expect sessions on cloud computing from Amazon’s engineers, who will dive into cloud infrastructure optimization and serverless architecture. AI and machine learning enthusiasts will have a chance to learn from IBM professionals about integrating AI solutions into scalable systems. Experts from Electrolux will share their insights into IoT (Internet of Things) and how it’s revolutionizing industries globally.

Mobile development is also a hot topic at MDC 2024. We’ll look into Kotlin Multiplatform, showcasing how Android and iOS developers can work more efficiently with shared codebases. There will also be deep dives into Android development and cross-platform solutions.

You’ll also hear from cybersecurity experts discussing the latest in application security and data privacy, particularly in the context of European regulations. DevOps professionals will share best practices for automating infrastructure and improving continuous integration pipelines.

With the technical depth and variety, we’ll ensure that there’s something valuable for every developer, whether you’re looking to specialize or broaden your tech horizons.

#2 Get a job you want

We invited industry leaders to join us as partners and they said YES. Here is the list of companies that will have their booths at the event. Traditionally they are here to offer you something awesome, including job opportunities. You’ll have enough time to go through all of them and explore the opportunities. Don’t miss a great chance to boost your career and build new relations!

Ready to join us? Don’t miss your chance to experience #MDC in full. Use promo code ‘igotomdc’ and grab your ticket now for an exclusive discount. Register here and secure your spot!

#3 Enjoy the time with other tech people

The communication is key. That’s why we hate online formats and focus on events where you can meet and talk with people who think alike.

We’ve carefully curated networking breaks, coffee sessions, and after-event activities to ensure you can meet and exchange ideas with tech professionals, potential employers, and industry leaders. Whether you want to collaborate on projects, discuss the latest innovations, or simply connect with like-minded individuals, MDC provides the perfect environment.

If you go with a Geek ticket — we’ll offer a quiet and all-inclusive Business Lounge where you can meet speakers and partners. Advanced tickets will allow you to attend workshops where you can discuss with speakers the topics you are interested in. Standard tickets will give you access to all the presentations on the main stage, as well as the opportunity to visit our partner stand and start new collaborations.

#4 Rock at the afterparty

Saturday night is going to be unforgettable. We’ve invited Moldova’s legendary rock band, Gindul Mitei, to light up the stage. With a huge setup, special effects, and professional-grade sound, we’re making sure the energy stays high as we celebrate the amazing connections and insights we’ve gathered over two days. Let’s rock together at the MDC afterparty!

See you at Moldova DevCon 2024 on November 1–2!

You at Moldova DevCon 2024

The story of the future told today.

It’s Friday evening. November. Maybe not the most colorful time in Moldova, but there’s something that makes you excited. You finish work a bit earlier because tonight is special. You’re heading to Moldova DevCon (#MDC) — an event built for you, by people just like you.

You make your way to Chisinau Arena. It’s chilly, but you know what’s waiting inside — a warm atmosphere and a cup of hot tea. Parking is easy, and there are no long lines, even with so many people arriving. We’ve made sure everything runs smoothly for you. Yes, we organized it for you.

You pass the registration quickly and paperless. In the hall, you find volunteers who guide you to the Main Stage, where you find a seat. The first impression — wow, they’ve really put in the effort! With your seat secured, you grab a well-deserved coffee or tea and something tasty to eat.

#MDC starts

The WOW effect continues when we light up the Main Stage. We spent months to make you shiver from excitement today. You are having a great Friday! A quick welcome speech, and then the presentations begin. We’ve brought in speakers from 10 countries for this edition — guaranteed, you’ll learn something new. You decide whom to listen to and when to catch up with old and new friends for a cup of something hot or a glass of wine.

Don’t forget to check out the partner booths — they’ve got giveaways and offers that just might change your life.

By 8 pm, the official program wraps up. You can either hang out at the Arena with fellow tech enthusiasts or head home to recharge for tomorrow.

If you’ve got a Geek ticket, the night continues with our Wine&Tech party at the Arena’s Business Lounge.

#MDC continues

The second day you come in the morning and we meet you with coffee, tech talks, and new experiences! We’ll spend the whole day together listening to presentations, attending workshops, and chatting. Relax zones, tons of placintas, and glasses of wine together with stunning presentations on the biggest Arena in Moldova!

Join official TG channel for updates and offers: https://t.me/MDC2024

Check our Agenda and Speakers list — you won’t be bored! The speakers will talk about the hottest topics in tech right now. They’ll cover everything from AI and machine learning to cybersecurity and cloud computing. You’ll hear from local and international pros who are right in the middle of these developments, sharing real-world experiences and actionable tips. Plus, there’s a strong focus on the specific challenges and opportunities developers in Moldova face.

Afterparty

At 7 pm, the official #MDC wraps up, but the fun is just beginning. It’s time to celebrate and create memories! Grab a drink — beer, wine, or water — and hit the dance floor. We’ve got a sound setup that’ll blow your mind and body! Gîndul Mîței is performing — just for YOU! And there’s a surprise at the end 😉

Hope you enjoyed the journey that leaves a pleasant aftertaste! But there’s one important thing to mention…

…not going to MDC is OK

Sure, you could skip MDC. You’ll be fine. But when you see all the photos and videos, especially from the afterparty, you might wish you’d been there. And we don’t want you to have that regret (better to regret what you did, not what you didn’t!). So, here’s a promo code ‘igotomdc’ — use it here for a friendly discount and join us!

Final thoughts — let’s talk about those who made this happen.

Partner contribution matters

#MDC budget was always covered by ticket sales only by 50%. This year it’s even less — expenses grew significantly, and ticket prices can’t keep this pace. To cover this we need partners — and they said YES to celebrate those who actually do the digitalization! This year wasn’t an easy one for the tech sector, but these brave companies stood out to help. And my (and hopefully yours) respect and gratitude towards them is enormous. Here is the list of our supporters!

Team

#MDC is our passion project. Every year we have a brave team that spends lots of their time and nerves for you to enjoy this incredible event. You won’t see the majority of them except for the one moment — when we all go on stage for the final bow. And we feel how you bow back — your applause explains WHY we did it. And this is what fills our hearts with love and passion. And we give it back preparing for the next event — the infinite loop of energy that makes this crazy world go round!

Updates: https://t.me/MDC2024

Event details: https://mdc.md/

Tickets: https://iticket.md/event/moldova-devcon-24 (use ‘igotomdc’) promo code

See you at #MDC24!

Finding the Right Audience and Understanding Your Offering: Lessons from Two Musicians

Is having a great product enough to succeed?

When we talk about product development and business, we often think of market research, customer feedback, and strategic planning. But the world of art can teach us valuable lessons about these same principles. And these principles could be applied to everything we do in our life. Consider the stories of two musicians, each with a unique perspective on finding the right audience and value of their performance.

Story 1

In the middle of a busy city’s metro station, a famous violinist Joshua Bell played beautiful classical music. Despite his status and the usual high price of his concert tickets, he was largely ignored by passersby. His hat, left out for tips, collected only a few dollars. This experiment highlighted a curious paradox: the same music that commanded $100 per ticket in a concert hall went unnoticed and underappreciated in the busy metro.

Story 2

Contrast this with a personal story about my 10-year-old daughter. She loves playing her recorder and often performs on the streets, earning pocket money from generous listeners. One day, we were strolling around town, and she had her recorder with her, looking for a spot to play. We passed a museum with a long queue of people waiting to get in. My daughter, with her keen sense of opportunity, said, “Look at these people. They’re here for art. If I play near them, they’ll definitely listen and maybe give me some money.”

She set up her spot near the museum queue and started playing. True to her intuition, the people waiting for the museum, already inclined towards art, appreciated her performance. She received smiles, applause, and even some money.

These two stories underscore a critical lesson in finding the right market for your product. The world-renowned violinist had immense talent, but in the wrong setting, it went unnoticed. Meanwhile, my daughter found a receptive audience by positioning herself where people were already inclined to appreciate her art.

Just test this in your mind: what if Joshua Bell would put his classics aside and try something like the Star Wars intro theme? Not that sophisticated? But the people at the metro station would definitely appreciate it more since this music matches more what they are inclined to hear when hurrying to work.

Key Takeaways:

1. Know your audience: Even the best products can fail if they aren’t presented to the right audience. Understanding who will value your product is crucial.
2. Context matters: The environment in which you present your product can greatly influence its reception. Aligning your offering with the right context can make all the difference.
3. Understand the full value proposition: When people buy a ticket to see a renowned violinist, it’s not just about the music; it’s also about the atmosphere, the prestige, and the social experience of attending a high-profile concert. This holistic experience was absent in the metro station, which contributed to the lack of appreciation. Similarly, understanding all aspects of why people value your product is essential for success.
4. Adapt and test: My daughter’s success came from her willingness to adapt and test her hypothesis about where her music would be appreciated. Similarly, businesses should be ready to experiment and pivot based on feedback and observation.

In conclusion, product-market fit is not just about having a great product; it’s about finding the right audience, the right context, and understanding the complete value your product offers. By learning from these two musicians, we can better understand how to position our own offerings for success.

Are you looking to develop a product that truly fits your market? At FusionWorks, we specialize in product and software development, ensuring that your vision aligns perfectly with your audience’s needs. Let’s bring your ideas to life together. Contact us today to get started on your journey to success.

Navigating the Tech Talent Shortage: Strategies for IT Recruitment Success

In the realm of IT recruitment, the dynamics are in a perpetual state of transformation. With each passing day, new technologies surface, skill prerequisites undergo changes, and the race to secure premier tech talent becomes increasingly fierce. However, one enduring obstacle stands tall: the ever-persistent tech talent shortage. As enterprises grow ever more dependent on technology, the appetite for IT professionals surpasses the available pool. In this article, we embark on a collective journey to delve into the strategies and proven best practices that can empower your organization to effectively navigate the challenges posed by tech talent scarcity.

We’ll build your product from scratch or join the existing team. We’ve hired technically strong engineers who speak your language and respect your time zone. Companies from 20 countries already work with us. We are ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certified by TUV Austria. — FusionWorks

As a pragmatic and well-organized personality, I adore bullet points or enumerations, so it is much clear about key topics and you may choose what to read (or use diagonal reader mode 👀), if you enjoy or at least try to, these as well, next points will be dedicated to your majesty 🌝.

1. WHAT do you really need? What is your goal? Who are you looking for and what for?

Before you embark on the recruitment journey, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of your organization’s specific IT needs. Define the skills, experience, and cultural fit you’re looking for in a candidate. By having a precise job description, you’ll attract candidates who are a better match for your requirements, reducing the time spent sifting through resumes.

There are expert-teams that may suggest cost-effective solutions for your challenges, not just “monkey-jobers” that will work on well-described tasks. One of them are our partners from Consulting. Optimize your work, save your money, contact them today.

2. Employer BRANDING

Your organization’s reputation matters. Tech professionals are selective about where they work, and a strong employer brand can be a magnet for top talent. Showcase your company’s values, culture, and commitment to innovation through your website, social media, and employee testimonials. Highlight unique perks and opportunities for growth.

“Words and opinions from the roof are the ones that matter, on documents you may find too many words, but there is the truth.” — Anton Perkin, CEO, FusionWorks

3. Listen to, motivate, and promote your team members

Your current employees can be your best recruitment advocates. Encourage them to refer potential candidates from their professional networks. Employee referral programs tap into a hidden talent pool and foster a sense of engagement and loyalty among your staff. Also when you do have a new position available, try to motivate your team members and promote them — the ones who are dedicated and loyal — these will show better results as they will honor your choice.

4. Collaborate with Educational Institutions

Forge partnerships with universities, coding boot camps, and technical schools. Engaging with these institutions can provide early access to emerging tech talent. Consider offering internships, co-op programs, or sponsoring student projects to identify and nurture future IT professionals.

So far this year, FusionWorks is in the process of completing one internship program in FrontEnd (Hi, Ion!), has finished three internship programs in BackEnd (👋 Vitalie, Mariana, Artur), and this week, it is the beginning of a university practice with nine students (Hello to all of you!), we welcomed and will help with their first-steps-into-practice.

5. Embrace Remote Work and Flexibility

The tech talent you seek may not always be within commuting distance. Embrace remote work options to expand your talent pool geographically. Many IT professionals value flexibility, and offering remote work opportunities can make your organization more attractive.

If for your business model, it is easier to work with freelancers, feel free to reach out to our colleagues from Talents.Tech — they have always the solutions

6. Develop a Continuous Learning Culture

Invest in the growth and development of your current IT team. Provide training, certifications, and opportunities for skill enhancement. A commitment to lifelong learning retains your existing talent and attracts new professionals seeking growth opportunities.

This AUTUMN, FusionWorks prepared an incredible surprize! Stay tuned and you will be one of the first to know it 😮. PS As far as I know, this news will be told from the stage, right at this event. Lucky you, who read till here))

7. Streamline the Recruitment Process

A lengthy and cumbersome recruitment process can turn off top candidates. Streamline your hiring process by reducing unnecessary steps, leveraging technology for initial screenings, and providing prompt feedback to applicants.

8. Stay Informed About Market Trends

The tech industry evolves rapidly. Stay up-to-date with our world’s latest trends, emerging technologies, and competitive salaries. This knowledge will help you make informed decisions and adapt your recruitment strategy accordingly.

The tech talent shortage is a challenge, but it’s not insurmountable. By understanding your needs, building a strong employer brand, collaborating with educational institutions, and embracing flexibility, your organization can successfully navigate this shortage. It’s a journey that requires adaptability, innovation, and a commitment to continuous improvement. With the right strategies in place, you can secure the IT talent your organization needs to thrive in an ever-changing digital landscape.

Cultivating Team Unity: Unveiling and Confronting Challenges of Social Laziness in the Workplace

Introduction

In the swiftly evolving modern work environments, working together is often highlighted as a key part of success. But hidden beneath the idea of teamwork is a psychological thing that can actually slow down how much work gets done and make coming up with new ideas harder. This thing is called “social laziness.” It happens because we tend to put in less effort when we’re in groups. This can cause big problems for how well teams do and for the overall success of a company. In this article, we’ll talk about social laziness, look at real examples from IT companies, and give you practical ways to stop it from happening and deal with it.

Understanding Social Loafing [I like to call it Social Laziness, so this word will be used in this article]

Social laziness is a psychological phenomenon where individuals exert less effort when working in a group compared to when working alone. This reduction in effort is driven by the perception that individual contributions are less visible or impactful within a collective effort. As a result, team productivity may suffer, creativity could be stifled, and morale could decline.

As one of FusionWorks’ values is Sharing is caring, please find some social loafing examples

Real-Life Cases of Social laziness in IT Companies

1. Introverts OR The Silent Coders Group: In a software development team, several programmers began to contribute less to the group projects, assuming their fellow team members would pick up the slack. This led to missed deadlines, buggy code, and an overall decline in project quality. In worst cases, this may also result in absenteeism, being too late for work without recuperating this time, and a bad reputation for the whole group/company.
2. Code-comments OR The Documentation Dilemma: Within an IT (support) team, a few members started neglecting their responsibilities to update the team’s internal knowledge base. They felt that others would take care of documentation, resulting in incomplete and outdated resources that hindered the efficiency of the entire team. In worst cases, employee fluctuation will determine no corporate memory, and solving one client problem may consume too much time, energy, money, and human resources.
3. Not my job OR Design band: In a(n) UI/UX design team, the phenomenon of social laziness emerged when team members believed that their design ideas would be overshadowed by the dominant voices, no matter from this group or from managers. As a result, some designers disengaged, leading to uninspired design outcomes. In worst cases, the main design is proposed by persons who are not experts in this field, without knowing trends and best practice ideas/designs/masterpieces are simply absent.
4. StandUps OR Meeting Chaos: A project management team encountered social laziness during meetings, with some members contributing minimally and even disengaging entirely. This lack of active participation led to unproductive discussions, hampering effective decision-making. In worst cases, this may cost time and money, as the decisions may be taken without knowing key details that may influence them.
5. Feedback on how to OR Code Review: Within a QA (Quality Assurance) team, a few members began relying heavily on their colleagues-developers to identify defects during code reviews. This caused a bottleneck in the review process, as the responsibility wasn’t evenly distributed among team members.

Learn more about FusionWorks’ Culture Code

Prevention and Solutions

In the quest for optimal team productivity, addressing the challenge of social laziness is paramount. Let’s continue our exploration by offering actionable strategies to counter this phenomenon and enhance collaborative effectiveness. If after reading them you believe there is anything else we may add, please leave comments above, this will be a super-nice opportunity for me to interact with you, awesome people reading this!

1. Clear Goal Setting: Establish specific, measurable, and achievable goals for each team member within the group. When individuals have a clear understanding of their responsibilities and the expected outcomes, they are more likely to feel accountable and motivated to contribute.
2. Individual Accountability: Assign tasks that showcase each team member’s expertise and skills. When responsibilities align with individuals’ strengths, they are more likely to take ownership and actively participate, reducing the inclination for social laziness.
3. Regular Progress Monitoring: Implement frequent check-ins to monitor the progress of group projects. This not only keeps everyone on track but also allows for early identification of potential social laziness behavior. Timely interventions can prevent its escalation.
4. Encourage Open Communication: Foster an environment where team members feel comfortable expressing their ideas and concerns. When individuals believe their voices are valued, they are more likely to contribute actively and engage in collaborative discussions.
5. Diversify Group Composition: Mix up team compositions periodically to avoid the formation of static subgroups. This prevents the development of “freeloader” dynamics where some members consistently rely on others to carry the load. This also may work as ”new blood” to the team spirit.
6. Recognize and Reward Effort: Implement a recognition system that acknowledges individual contributions. Highlighting the value of each person’s efforts reinforces a sense of purpose and discourages social laziness tendencies.
7. Rotate Leadership Roles: Designate different team members as leaders for various projects or tasks. This rotation of leadership responsibilities encourages each individual to stay engaged and contribute fully, knowing that their turn to lead will come.

Did you see our blog? HERE it is

Conclusion

As organizations continue to embrace collaboration as a key driver of innovation, understanding and addressing the phenomenon of social laziness becomes crucial. By recognizing the signs, implementing preventive measures, and fostering an environment of individual accountability and open communication, HR professionals and team leaders can effectively counteract the negative impacts of social laziness. Ultimately, creating a culture that values each team member’s contribution can lead to heightened productivity, enhanced creativity, and a more harmonious and successful workplace.

Looking for a partner who may really help while you solve business related problems? Hire our TEAM

Crisis-Proofing Your Business: The Power of IT Outsourcing Unveiled

Summary of this article: Determine Suitability for You

Discover the pivotal role of IT outsourcing during times of turmoil. Flexibility, cost efficiency, specialized expertise, and swift digital transformation empower businesses. Outsourcing mitigates risks, sustains core functions, and enables rapid scalability. Outsourced testing of ideas safeguards innovation with minimal resource commitment. Adapting to crises becomes manageable with strategic outsourcing partnerships. — Crisis Solution: Outsourcing

INTRO

In an ever-connected world, businesses are constantly striving to adapt and remain resilient in the face of global crises. Any crisis reminds us of the importance of agility and preparedness. Amidst economic uncertainties, remote work, and disrupted supply chains, IT outsourcing emerged as a powerful tool for businesses to navigate these challenges. In this article, we explore how IT outsourcing can be your best friend during times of global crisis, providing a lifeline to sustain and thrive in the midst of uncertainty.

(“Sharing is caring” by FusionWorks) Video recommendation: Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order by Ray Dalio

1. The Flexibility Factor

One of the most significant advantages of IT outsourcing is its flexibility. When a crisis strikes, businesses often need to swiftly adjust their operations to stay afloat. Outsourcing IT services allows companies to scale up or down as needed, without the burden of maintaining an in-house team. Whether it’s sudden shifts to remote work or changes in project priorities, outsourcing partners can seamlessly adapt to your evolving needs.

2. Cost Efficiency in Turbulent Times

During a global crisis, cost-saving becomes paramount. Maintaining an in-house IT department can be expensive due to salaries, benefits, and infrastructure costs. Outsourcing IT services enables businesses to convert fixed costs into variable costs, paying only for the services they require. This approach offers substantial savings, which can be especially crucial when revenue streams are unpredictable.

First time here? Find out about Outsourcing Explained in 210 seconds

3. Strategically Gaining Expertise

In the midst of a crisis, tapping into specialized expertise can be a game-changer. IT outsourcing provides access to specialized skills and experience, one click distance. Whether you need cybersecurity experts to protect your digital assets during remote work or developers to create innovative digital solutions, outsourcing partners can bring a wealth of knowledge to the table.

4. Focus on Core Competencies

Global crises often demand that businesses direct their attention to core competencies to maintain their competitive edge. By outsourcing IT functions, companies can allocate resources to activities that directly contribute to their value proposition. This laser focus on essential aspects of the business enhances efficiency and allows for a quicker response to changing market dynamics.

5. Risk Mitigation and Business Continuity

Outsourcing IT services can provide an added layer of risk mitigation and business continuity planning. When a crisis disrupts operations, an outsourcing partner can step in to maintain essential IT functions, minimizing downtime and data loss. The distributed nature of outsourcing teams can also serve as a buffer against localized disruptions, ensuring that your business remains operational even if certain regions are severely affected.

Need IT consultancy? Contact our partners and get a discount for your first need

6. Scalability and Speed to Market

Global crises can bring unexpected opportunities, and businesses that can quickly adapt are poised to seize them. Outsourcing partners offer scalability, allowing companies to rapidly expand their IT capabilities to meet increased demand. This scalability translates to a faster time-to-market for new products or services, giving your business a competitive advantage in a dynamic environment.

7. Remote Work’s Transformative Impact

IT outsourcing inherently embraces remote collaboration, as outsourcing teams are often spread across different geographical locations. This experience positions businesses well to navigate remote work challenges and effectively manage distributed teams.

Learn more about FusionWork’s expertise

8. Testing Ideas and Prototyping in a Resource-Strained Environment

During a global crisis, the luxury of fully investing in a new idea or project can be elusive due to limited resources and heightened uncertainty. This is where the concept of outsourcing specific components of the innovation process becomes a strategic advantage. For businesses looking to test the viability of new ideas or prototypes, outsourcing critical elements such as design, development, quality assurance (QA), or even recruiting can be a prudent approach.

9. Outsourcing Development for Proof of Concept

Innovation often requires the creation of prototypes or proof-of-concept models to demonstrate the feasibility of an idea. Outsourcing the development of these prototypes can be a cost-effective way to validate concepts without committing extensive resources. By partnering with experienced outsourced development teams, businesses can quickly transform ideas into tangible solutions, enabling them to gauge market interest and gather valuable feedback before making further investments.

10. Utilizing Outsourced Quality Assurance for Trustworthy Results

Quality assurance is paramount when testing new ideas or products. Outsourcing QA can ensure that your prototypes or solutions are rigorously tested in diverse scenarios, without the need to establish an entire in-house testing infrastructure. This approach not only helps identify potential flaws but also accelerates the refinement process, allowing you to fine-tune your offerings based on real-world feedback.

Decode FusionWorks’ News: invitation to Boost Collaboration

Conclusion

Global crises demand a unique approach to innovation and resource allocation. Outsourcing key components of idea testing and exploration provides a strategic advantage, enabling businesses to efficiently assess new concepts without committing excessive resources. Whether it’s UI/UX design, developing prototypes, ensuring quality through outsourced QA, or expediting talent acquisition with external recruiters, this approach allows businesses to navigate uncertainties while maintaining a keen focus on innovation. By taking advantage of outsourcing as a tool for idea validation, businesses can maximize their chances of success and position themselves for growth in an ever-evolving landscape.

Streamlining Digital Transformation: Implementing DevOps Solutions for Your Business

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, digital transformation is no longer a mere option but a necessity for staying competitive. Organizations across various industries embrace DevOps as a vital strategy to facilitate this transformation.

DevOps aims to improve software delivery, enhance product quality, and boost overall business efficiency by merging development and operations teams and fostering a collaborative culture.

Continue reading to learn how you can implement DevOps in your business.

The Importance of DevOps Pipeline for Digital Transformation

The DevOps pipeline is pivotal in ensuring a smooth digital transformation journey for businesses. It is a set of automated processes that streamline the development, testing, deployment, and monitoring of applications. Here are some key reasons why the DevOps pipeline is crucial for digital transformation:

a. Accelerated Software Delivery: The DevOps pipeline promotes Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Deployment (CD), enabling organizations to release new features and updates rapidly. This agility allows businesses to respond to market demands faster and gain a competitive edge.

b. Improved Collaboration: DevOps fosters a culture of collaboration and communication between development, operations, and other relevant teams. This alignment leads to better understanding, reduced conflicts, and enhanced cooperation, ultimately benefiting the entire product development lifecycle.

c. Enhanced Product Quality: By automating testing and code reviews, the DevOps pipeline helps identify and address issues early in the development process. This results in higher product quality and reduced chances of defects reaching the production environment.

d. Better Customer Experience: The faster and more reliable delivery of new features and bug fixes ensures a smoother user experience, which is crucial for customer satisfaction and loyalty.

e. Continuous Feedback and Improvement: The DevOps pipeline facilitates continuous monitoring and feedback, enabling organizations to gather insights, make data-driven decisions, and continually improve their products and services.

Five Steps to Get Started with DevOps

Implementing DevOps requires a well-thought-out plan and a gradual approach. Here are five essential steps to get started:

Step 1: Assess the Current State. Understand your organization’s existing development and operations processes, identify pain points, and gauge the level of collaboration between teams.

Step 2: Create a DevOps Culture. Cultivate a culture of collaboration, transparency, and innovation. Encourage cross-functional teams, foster knowledge sharing, and break down silos.

Step 3: Automate Processes. Implement automation for repetitive tasks, such as testing, deployment, and monitoring. Automation reduces manual errors and accelerates the development lifecycle.

Step 4: Implement CI/CD. Set up a Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipeline to automate code integration, testing, and deployment. This ensures a steady and reliable release process.

Step 5: Monitor and Iterate. Continuously monitor the performance of applications in the production environment. Gather feedback from users and stakeholders and use it to iterate and enhance your DevOps practices.

Challenges in Implementing DevOps Solutions

While DevOps offers significant benefits, businesses may face challenges during implementation. Some common obstacles include:

a. Cultural Resistance: Shifting to a DevOps culture requires a mindset change, and resistance from employees accustomed to traditional workflows may hinder progress.

b. Tooling and Technology: Selecting the right tools and technologies that align with the organization’s needs can be challenging. Integration issues between different tools may arise, impacting workflow efficiency.

c. Skill Gaps: Employees may lack the necessary skills and knowledge to work effectively in a DevOps environment. Training and upskilling initiatives are vital to bridging these gaps.

d. Security Concerns: Speedy releases and frequent changes can potentially lead to security vulnerabilities. Implementing robust security practices is essential to protecting the organization from cyber threats.

e. Legacy Systems: Organizations with legacy systems may find it challenging to integrate these systems into the DevOps pipeline. Legacy systems may require restructuring or replacement to fit the DevOps model.

Leveraging Extended and Outsourced Teams for DevOps Implementation

To overcome some of the challenges mentioned above and ensure a successful DevOps implementation, businesses can consider leveraging extended teams and outsourcing. Here are some benefits:

a. Access to Expertise: Outsourcing allows businesses to tap into the expertise of experienced DevOps professionals who are well-versed in the latest tools and best practices.

b. Cost-Effectiveness: Building an in-house DevOps team can be costly and time-consuming. Outsourcing provides a cost-effective alternative, as it eliminates recruitment and training expenses.

c. Scalability and Flexibility: Extended teams and outsourcing services can be easily scaled up or down based on project requirements, ensuring flexibility in resource allocation.

d. Faster Time-to-Market: Partnering with experienced DevOps service providers can expedite the implementation process, leading to faster time-to-market for products and services.

e. Focus on Core Competencies: Outsourcing DevOps tasks allows the internal team to focus on core business activities and strategic initiatives, leading to increased productivity.

Kickstart your Organization’s DevOps Journey

Embracing DevOps is no longer an option but a necessity for businesses aiming to thrive in the digital era. By establishing an efficient DevOps pipeline and fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation, organizations can achieve accelerated software delivery, improved product quality, and better customer experiences.

Although challenges may arise during the implementation process, businesses can mitigate them by leveraging extended teams and outsourcing expert support.

DevOps implementation is a journey, and with a strategic approach, organizations can unlock the full potential of this transformative methodology. Remember, each organization’s DevOps journey is unique, and it’s crucial to tailor the approach to fit the specific needs and goals of your business.

FusionWorks can become your trusted partner in improving the productivity of your business with DevOps solutions. Book your FREE consultation today.

Being a CEO sucks

In a short video, I’ve talked about why being a CEO sucks and why you’ll love this job. And we are talking about the CEO not only of a company but also about life in general — everywhere where you feel the ownership.

Some highlight thoughts before you watch:

• any fuckup is your fuckup;
• you are an Emergency;

Even if the doctor says your 2-week-old child is in serious condition, you have to solve a C-level urgent riddle the same day;

• flexible hours = congrats, you may work anytime, any day;
• remote work possibility = you are lucky, you may do your job while on vacation;

Tonight you get a concussion of the brain, a fracture of the facial bone, half of the face looks like a boxer after a champion fight — you participate in the meeting the next morning;

• you can’t digest the word “problem” anymore. “Issue” is more or less OK, but preferably should come with the word “solution”;
• you do this not because it’s that vital, but because you feel ownership. And this should not be only about being a CEO, it’s about being a developer, a friend, a father;
• you have lots of supporters, indeed;
• there is a strong reason to be a CEO!

Enjoy the video!

Candidate Experience: How to Deliver a Seamless Journey from Application to Onboarding

We have learned to navigate and operate in an exceptionally competitive job market. In this context, the acquisition and retention of top talent demand more than merely identifying qualified candidates. It becomes critical to offer applicants a seamless and memorable journey from the initial application to their first day on the job. The next lines of this text, aim to provide insights into the key strategies and best practices necessary to deliver an exceptional candidate experience, ensuring a smooth transition from application to onboarding.

The Significance of First Impressions

The importance of first impressions cannot be overstated, especially in the realm of recruitment. The process begins by designing an intuitive and user-friendly online application system. Simplify the application form, optimize it for mobile devices, and eliminate any unnecessary steps. Additionally, it is essential to promptly acknowledge candidates’ applications to reinforce their confidence and set the stage for a positive experience.

What is your first impression about FusionWorks?

Open and Honest Communication

Effective and transparent communication serves as the bedrock of a successful candidate experience. Maintaining open lines of communication with applicants throughout the entire process is paramount. Providing timely updates on their application status, whether it involves progress or not, demonstrates a commitment to transparency. Even with unsuccessful candidates, treating them respectfully and candidly is crucial, recognizing their potential as future hires or valuable brand advocates.

Tailored and Individualized Engagement

Creating personalized engagement opportunities for candidates fosters a stronger connection and demonstrates their unique value. Customizing communications to address candidates by name and referencing specific details from their resume or cover letter shows a genuine interest. Engaging with candidates through personalized messages, and sharing insights about the company culture, team dynamics, and growth prospects, enhances their sense of belonging and excitement.

Ask for details if something from our portfolio seems interesting.

Efficient and Transparent Interview Process

Ensuring an efficient and transparent interview process helps avoid unnecessary delays and confusion. Using technology to your advantage, such as integrating video interviews, pre-recorded questions, or automated assessments, allows for efficient evaluation of candidates’ skills and cultural fit. Respecting candidates’ time by providing clear instructions and promptly scheduling interviews demonstrates professionalism and consideration.

Highlighting Organizational Culture

Throughout the recruitment process, offering candidates glimpses into your organization’s unique culture is essential. Sharing compelling stories, news, engaging videos, or inspiring testimonials from clients or current employees highlights the positive aspects of working within your company. This helps candidates envision themselves as valued team members, fostering excitement and anticipation for potential opportunities.

Smooth and Welcoming Onboarding

Recognizing the criticality of onboarding, a comprehensive and welcoming program is essential. Designing an onboarding process that helps new hires acclimate quickly and feel supported is crucial. Providing the necessary tools, resources, and training to facilitate a smooth transition into their roles demonstrates your commitment to their success. Assigning a buddy or mentor to guide them during their initial weeks fosters a sense of belonging and enables a supportive environment.

Continuous Feedback and Ongoing Improvement

Acknowledging that the candidate experience is an ongoing process, actively seeking feedback, and continuously improving is imperative. Soliciting feedback from candidates who have completed your recruitment process enables the identification of areas for enhancement. Analyzing data, conducting surveys, and gathering insights contribute to refining strategies and ensuring a seamless candidate journey.

”We share our experience — successes and failures — to help others learn and grow” — Fusion.Works

In conclusion, delivering an exceptional candidate experience is a transformative strategy within today’s competitive talent landscape. By prioritizing open communication, personalized engagement, streamlined interviews, showcasing culture, effective onboarding, and continuous improvement, companies can attract top talent, strengthen their employer brand, and cultivate enduring relationships with candidates. Embracing these strategies enables organizations to provide an unforgettable candidate experience and position themselves for success.