Re: What are the most important issues during offshore software development

Oh, absolutely!  English is an absolute MUST!  (Or I should say, both
sides should speak the same language).  There's ENOUGH other stuff you
have to overcome without the language barrier getting in the way.

Cultures can be bridged somewhat.  It's attitude (on both sides).

BTW, your original question might have implied a "throw the
requirements over the wall and software comes back".  I have *never*
seen that work...ever.  I've never worked in highly specified
environments either (ISO 9000).  But I'm skeptical even then.  Unless
you absolutely don't care what the software looks like and you won't
maintain it yourself at some point, gotta get involved... committed in
the end result.

--- In [email protected], shi.lin1@... wrote:
>
> Thanks for your valuable experience sharing.
> 
> Yes, the first point is the language, at least two sides should
understand 
> well. So that is why English is so important and widely used now.
> 
> The second is the culture background, some underlying communications 
> depend on this.
> 
> Btw, my private email is forrest.shi@..., I am very glad to 
> communicate with you.
> 
> Best Regards,
> Forrest
> 
> 
> 
> 
> <jwenting@...> 
> Sent by: [email protected]
> 02/07/2008 12:10 AM
> Please respond to
> [email protected]
> 
> 
> To
> <[email protected]>
> cc
> 
> Subject
> RE: [pragprog] What are the most important issues during offshore
software 
> development
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> I?ve seen it work, I?ve seen it fail completely.
> The main difference (apart from the countries involved and the
cultures of 
> the people there which does play a part and I will tell you in
private if 
> you want, not in public to prevent angering people with what may
seem like 
> sweeping statements) is having people on the ground who know the
culture 
> and language inside and out.
>  
> Jobs that failed invariably were not given local supervision, either by 
> permanently placing someone on site with the contractor or at least 
> regularly sending someone over.
> Jobs that succeeded did that, and sent people originally from those 
> countries who speak the language and know the customs.
>  
> There was also a major difference (as I said in the countries involved) 
> but that could have been accidental as the sample I did encounter
was not 
> exhaustive.
>  
> Jeroen Wenting
>  
> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On
Behalf 
> Of shi.lin1@...
> Sent: dinsdag 1 juli 2008 6:49
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: [pragprog] What are the most important issues during offshore 
> software development
>  
> 
> Hi all, 
> 
> Offshore software development has seen tremendous growth in the last
few 
> years. This particular kind of outsourcing occurs when the contracting 
> parties are in different countries and the software is developed in the 
> developer's country, and then shipped to the buyer's organization. 
> 
> So to understand well about offshore software development, I just raise 
> this question. If somebody had such experience and you want to share
your 
> story, that is awesome! 
> 
> Thanks. 
> 
> Best Regards,
> Forrest
>