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Der Einfluss kultureller Unterschiede beim IT-Offshoring

Ergebnisse aus Fallstudien zu deutsch-indischen Anwendungs-entwicklungsprojekten

The impact of cultural differences in offshore application development — Case study results from German-Indian projects

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WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK

Kernpunkte

Dieser Beitrag zeigt auf der Basis von sechs Anwendungsentwicklungsprojekten in Indien, welche kulturellen Einflussgrößen bei der Auslagerung von IT-Projekten einzubeziehen sind, wie diese Determinanten den Projekterfolg beeinflussen und durch welche Maßnahmen von Seiten des Managements kulturelle Herausforderungen zur Sicherung des Projekterfolgs gemeistert werden können:

  • Als kritische Kulturfaktoren haben sich Unterschiede in der Machtdistanz, dem Designverständnis und der aktiven versus passiven Arbeitseinstellung herauskristallisiert.

  • Diese Faktoren wirken direkt auf wichtige Stellgrößen der Beziehungsqualität, wie dem Vertrauen, der Leistung des Anbieters, dem Grad der Kooperation und auftretenden Konflikten. Auf diese Weise wirken sie indirekt auf den Erfolg von Offshoring-Projekten.

  • Eine klare Definition von Rollen und Mechanismen, starke Mitarbeiterführung und ein aktives Kulturmanagement, das eine Anpassung an die Kultur des Kunden oder an die des Anbieters beinhaltet, haben sich als effektive Managementmaßnahmen zur Bewältigung kultureller Herausforderungen herausgestellt.

Abstract

Recently, offshoring of information systems (IS) services to external vendors has seen considerable growth. Outsourcing to vendors in foreign countries causes unique challenges which need to be understood and managed effectively. This paper explores cultural differences in IS offshoring arrangements involving German client organizations that outsource application development activities to Indian vendors. For this purpose, a research framework is developed based on both theoretical considerations and specific empirical observations from multiple case studies. The goal is to (1) explore the nature of cultural differences in offshoring arrangements in depth and to (2) analyze the relationship between those cultural differences and offshoring success.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lehrstuhl für ABWL und Wirtschaftsinformatik, Universität Mannheim, Schloss S 134, 135, 219/220, 68131, Mannheim, Germany

    Jessica Winkler,  Jens Dibbern &  Armin Heinzl

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  1. Jessica Winkler
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  2. Jens Dibbern
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  3. Armin Heinzl
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Winkler, J., Dibbern, J. & Heinzl, A. Der Einfluss kultureller Unterschiede beim IT-Offshoring. Wirtsch. Inform. 49, 95–103 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11576-007-0031-8

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