Lancet Worldwide Outsourcing News

Communication is a Key Factor in Offshore Outsourcing

Software outsourcing, especially offshoring of it, causes the biggest headaches because of a single factor: communication.  We in North America may view offshore outsourcing as not being a hurdle when it comes to communications by concluding that; after all, if the party at the other end can also speak and understand English then there should be no problem in communicating. Such an assumption is far removed from the truth and its fallacy comes into play once a North American company contracts to deal with an offshore vendor.

The main reason India has been the recipient of the highest number of software development dollars—60 to 70 percent of all software offshore outsourcing-- is because this country is viewed to have a large English speaking population. (After all, India was under the British Raj for about 100 years.) Granted communication with Indian vendors may prove to be more satisfactory than with those in China, Russia, Japan, and a host of other countries who have jumped into the fray offering their software development services, the key phrase to remember here is “satisfactory.”

Generally the communication at best will be satisfactory because of various reasons. The main reason being the evolution of the English Language in India is heavily seeped in the Indian culture and traditions, and its form is so distinctive that it is now popularly known as “Hinglish.”  This word implies a fusion of Hindi and English, where not only Hindi has changed the way English is spoken and written but even the way it is understood. However, Hinglish -- if we categorize English communication in China as Chinglish, in Russia as Russlish and Japan as Japlish-- is comparatively more comprehensible than its counterparts in other countries, and surely this is one of the main reasons India is the beneficiary of more offshore software development contracts.

It should be pointed out though: Every offshore country has a certain percentage of population with English Language skills which allow them to understand American English and its finer points. There is also a section of population very much acquainted with North American culture having lived in North America, and very much conversant with the culture of their own country having lived there, too. These people, if they are articulate and have assimilated both cultures, serve as good conduits when venturing on the road to software offshore outsourcing. And, indeed, if members from this section of population are familiar with the basics of software development and its inherent terminology, then you have the right profile of a person who can serve as an excellent software offshore outsourcing consultant.

LancetWorldwide have consultants who are well-versed in the business ethics and finer points of both the North American and Indian marketplace. They are experienced in software outsourcing and can liaise on your behalf with your vendor. Lancet Worldwide a consultant company, out of Kanata, Canada, offers a FREE initial half an hour of valuable consultation service for software development outsourcing.

Lancet Worldwide, Akbar Burney - Technical Outsourcing Consultant

Published Wed, 12 Sep 2007 19:44:48 -0400

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