Coordination and learning in global software development : articulation work in distributed cooperation of small companies [Elektronische Ressource] / Alexander Boden

Coordination and Learning in GlobalSoftware DevelopmentArticulation Work in Distributed Cooperation of SmallCompaniesDissertationvonAlexander Bodenzur Erlangung des Doktorgrades Dr. rer. pol.an der Fakultät III:Wirtschaftswissenschaften,Wirtschaftsinformatik und Wirtschaftsrechtder Universität SiegenAbstractSoftware offshoring has been established as an important business strategy over the lastdecade. WhileresearchonsuchformsofGlobalSoftwareDevelopment(GSD)hasmainlyfocused on the situation of large enterprises, small enterprises are increasingly engagingin offshoring, too. Representing the biggest share of the German software industry, smallcompaniesareknowntobeimportantinnovatorsandmarketpioneers. Theyoftenregardtheir flexibility and customer-orientation as core competetive advantages. Unlike largecorporations,theirsmallsizeallowsthemtoadoptsoftwaredevelopmentapproachesthatare characterized by a high agility and flat hierachies. At the same time, their distinctstrategies make it unlikely that they can simply adopt management strategies that weredeveloped for larger companies.Flexible development approaches like the ones preferred by small corporations haveproven to be problematic in the context of offshoring, as their strong dependency onconstant communication is strongly affected by the various barriers of international co-operation between companies.