Title:
The
Socio-Cultural Implications of Global Software Alliances
Abstract: Due
to advances in information and communication
technologies (ICTs), the cost of communicating declined and organizing
from
distant places was possible. As competitive pressure in the market
increased,
decentralized decision-making became norm in the organizations in
developed
countries. Whereas service firms employed contract freelancers,
manufacturing
organizations outsourced work to other firms to cut costs. More
recently, due
to rise of knowledge workers, foreign firms (U.S.
and U.K.) outsource
software
production to India.
Upon forming alliances with Indian firms, work processes and
standardization
schemes are transferred to increase productivity and output quality.
Although
outsourcing of software promises efficiency gains and cost savings,
American
and British firms face numerous socio-cultural challenges while
managing global
software alliances in India.
Author: Ramanjit
Singh