Offshore Software Development Outsourcing Contract from Vendors’ Perspective: A Systematic Literature Review Protocol

Abstract

Context – Offshore software development outsourcing (OSDO) is a modern business strategy for developing high quality software at low-wage countries at reduced cost. Outsourcing is a contract based association between vendor and client organization, where a client organization contracts-out with vendor organization for software development work to be provided by vendor organization in return for remuneration. Appropriate management of the OSDO contract plays an important role in the success of outsourced projects. Objective The objective of this protocol is to identify different critical success factors (CSFs) and critical barriers (CBs) that are considered critical for successful management and execution of the outsourcing contract in different stages of the contract i.e. pre-contract, during the contract and post-contract. Method – Systematic Literature Review (SLR) will be used for the identification of the aforementioned factors. SLR is based on a structured protocol, and is therefore, different from ordinary review. SLR give more prescribed and less biased result from the ordinary literature review. Expected Outcome – We have developed the SLR protocol and are currently in process of its implementation. The expected outcomes of this review will be the identification of critical success factors (CSFs) and critical barriers (CBs) to be addressed by vendor organizations for appropriate management of OSDO contract. The ultimate outcome of the research is to develop Outsourcing Contract Management Model (OCMM).