The End of the Line: Project Management Challenges in Small Software Shops in Pakistan

Abstract

This paper examines how agile software development can be implemented in an offshore setting by introducing and testing the dual-shore approach. The topic is further enlightened by an analysis and discussion of an empirical autoethnographic study proposing three specific suggestions for improvements of a particular agile offshoring process. Furthermore, the discussion leads to a modification of the original dual-shore approach to fit the characteristics of low-budget development projects. The article explains agile development and elaborates the four basic principles associated with it. The four principles are then used as a framework throughout the article. A short introduction to the terms outsourcing and offshoring is given, and it is illuminated how agile processes can be implemented into offshored development. The most common difficulties regarding agile offshoring are described and the dual-shore model is introduced as a tool to improve communication in an agile offshore setting. A qualitative case is presented highlighting the methodological concepts. Key contributions are that the dualshore model is suggested to be supplemented with Exemplary Business Process Models extended beyond the onshore team and partially presented to the offshore development team, the metaphorical layers of the dual-shore approach is specifically included, and a design of an online start-up meeting is proposed.