Systematic prioritization of considerations in making offshore software development outsourcing decisions

Abstract

Offshore outsourcing of software development projects has become increasingly prevalent over the past decade. In order to avoid potential pitfalls in outsourcing, companies must carefully select who to outsource to. Although general guidelines exist for those companies to consult, they are not customizable to the unique needs of each company and project. By assessing the type of a company's outsourceable project and its in-house capabilities regarding the project, the main outsourcing goal of the company is first determined. Depending on the goal, the essential issues to be considered in making outsourcing decisions are then prioritized systematically. Case studies have been conducted to support the set prioritization patterns, followed by an examination of current limitations and possible future work.