Project Management Research Of International Information Technology Outsourcing

Incorporated in March 2002, Intasect Communications(Chengdu) Co., Ltd.(“Company X”), a software company mainly in offshore software development, started with securities systems and has extended its clientage to, among others, banking/insurance companies, automobile manufacturers, tobacco companies, and government agencies.As one of major offshore software development companies in southwest China, Company X has gained some software development and project management experience from its constant and ongoing engagement in international software development projects and system maintenance services in the past decade. However, this rapidly-growing company faces a serious shortage of experienced project managers. More, as more clients demand higher success rates, old-fashioned, extensive project management that features mentoring is obviously unable to meet present and future client requirements. Furthermore, some previous experience gained in particular cases does not fit current circumstances and needs adaption and refinement.Considering all of the above, the author attempts in this article to develop a project management approach to offshore software development projects, which builds on Company X’s current practice and experience and fits the Capability Maturity Model Integration(CMMI) theories. Hopefully, such an approach could be of some practical guidance in similar projects. In this article, the author unfolds his analysis and studies as follows:Firstly, he introduces systematically the CMMI models(including the concept, essentials, component elements, and evaluation), states the reasons he selects CMMI for his project management methodology studies, and also lists concrete outsourcers’ requirements in international offshore outsourcing activities. Then, in combination of the realities with Company X, he reveals the problems faced by contractors in project management and analyzes such problems for underlying causes. Finally, he puts forward a management approach to offshore software development projects, which targets at those problems and addresses those underlying causes.