LXS Ltd. Meets Tight System Development Deadlines via the St. Lucia Connection

Abstract

LXS Ltd., a Toronto software house, has identified high market demand for their proposed new product called Estitherm, a Web-based software tool that supports heat loss calculations for architectural engineers designing structures. Estitherm’s development requires sophisticated Java programming skills, however, and the project stalls when LXS is unable to hire enough additional programmers to be able to meet the development deadlines dictated by competition. Through lucky coincidence, LXS’ Chief Scientist stumbles onto a pool of Java talent while vacationing on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. Negotiations follow, a contract is signed and the project is quickly brought to successful completion with the aid of Caribbean programmers, working via the Internet. Similar contract arrangements hold the promise for improved economic conditions in Caribbean nations and can reduce software backlogs for companies in developed nations, but better mechanisms are needed to bring together buyers and sellers of IT services.