Offshore Software Development: An Alternative Solution for Information Technology Staffing

Abstract

The quiet emergence of Year 2000 supplementation of IT skill sets has become an increasingly viable alternative for many companies to lower costs and speed implementation. Offshore software development continues to grow. More countries recognize its economic impact and are providing infrastructure to nurture continued expansion. The challenges of the client/developer contract reach beyond coding quality and remote management. The chapter presents the evolution, rationale, and models used for offshore/nearshore software development with an analysis by major countries engaged in the delivery. Best practices and examples of some firms illustrate the critical success factors of these relationships.