Offshoring Information Technology or The WorkPlace

Offshoring Information Technology: Sourcing and Outsourcing to a Global Workforce

Author: Erran Carmel

The decision to source software development to an overseas firm (offshoring) is looked at frequently in simple economic terms - it's cheaper, and skilled labor is easier to find. In practice, however, offshoring is fraught with difficulties. As well as the considerable challenge of controlling projects at a distance, there are differences in culture, language, business methods, politics, and many other issues to contend with. Nevertheless, as many firms have discovered, the benefits of getting it right are too great to ignore. This book explains everything you need to know to put offshoring into practice, avoid the pitfalls, and develop effective working relationships. It covers a comprehensive range of the important offshoring issues: from ROI to strategy, from SLA to culture, from country comparisons to provider marketing. Written for CTOs, CIOs, consultants, and other IT executives, this book is also an excellent introduction to sourcing for business students.

Table of Contents:

Pt. I	The fundamentals	1
1	The offshore landscape	3
2	Offshore economics and offshore risks	31
3	Beginning the offshore journey	51
4	The offshore country menu	69
Pt. II	Managerial competency	91
5	Offshore strategy	93
6	Offshore legal issues	112
7	Managing the offshore transition	130
8	Overcoming distance and time	149
9	Dealing with cross-cultural issues	175
Pt. III	Other stakeholders	197
10	Building software industries in developing nations	199
11	Marketing of offshore services : the provider perspective	219
12	Offshore politics	241

See also: Mastering the Craft of Smoking Food or Joy of Muffins

The WorkPlace: Chart Your Career (Professional Development Series Book 4)

Author: Joseph Pac

Developed by Dr. Joe Pace and incorporating the same material he has used to guide thousands of students and to train hundreds of instructors across North America, The Professional Development Series is designed to teach the personal skills that lead to college, job, and career success.

The result? Confident, motivated students who have the goals and skills to succeed in your program and in their chosen careers.

One day a student leaves school and has a job; twenty years later they look back and realize they have a career. How can students make sure that the career they choose is fulfilling and rewarding? How can they avoid or overcome the inevitable missteps – taking the wrong job, for example – and get their careers back on track? Book 4 offers guidance on planning a career and, more importantly, on developing, changing, and maintaining it.

Each of the four books of the Series can stand-alone or be purchased in a discounted package with the other texts.