Crossing Boundaries in Global Software Development: Views from a Major Indian IT Vendor

Anne-Marie Søderberg, Laurence Romani

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperResearchpeer-review

    Abstract

    Western companies´ offshore outsourcing is increasingly being replaced by strategic partnerships that require closer collaboration between client and vendor. This paper addresses the question: How does a vendor company from an emergent market deal with inter-organizational boundary spanning activities in a major transformation of a Western client's processes and products? The case study draws on multiple interviews with key boundary spanners in an Indian IT vendor´s on-site and off-shore teams, who are responsible for developing client relations and coordinating complex development projects across cultures, languages, organizational boundaries, time zones and geographical distances. The paper revises a framework of boundary spanning leadership practices developed for MNCs and adapts it to an offshore outsourcing context. It also contributes with reflections on how imbalances of resources within the client-vendor relationship need to be taken into account for a better understanding of the vendor´s ambitions and its boundary spanning activities.
    Original languageEnglish
    Publication date2014
    Number of pages38
    Publication statusPublished - 2014
    Event12th EIASM Workshop on International Management. 2014 - CopenHagen Business School, Frederiksberg, Denmark
    Duration: 23 Oct 201425 Oct 2014
    Conference number: 12
    http://www.eiasm.org/frontoffice/event_announcement.asp?event_id=1058

    Workshop

    Workshop12th EIASM Workshop on International Management. 2014
    Number12
    LocationCopenHagen Business School
    Country/TerritoryDenmark
    CityFrederiksberg
    Period23/10/201425/10/2014
    Internet address

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