Factors impacting knowledge transfer success in information systems outsourcing

Despite increased research interest on knowledge transfer in information systems (IS) outsourcing, the field still lacks sound and holistic understanding of the key factors influencing knowledge transfer success. The present paper attempts to provide a synthesis of existing theoretical perspectives and empirical findings related to the factors that facilitate or hamper knowledge transfer success in IS outsourcing. The data collection method is discussed and the key findings are presented. Conclusion is drawn and further research is suggested

Factors Influencing Knowledge Transfer in Onshore Information Systems Outsourcing in Ethiopia

Knowledge transfer in onshore information systems (IS) outsourcing projects in Africa is an important but under-researched phenomenon. This study focuses on the client-vendor perspective and examines the factors that influence knowledge transfer in onshore information systems outsourcing in Ethiopia. Conceptually, knowledge-based perspectives of IS outsourcing is used to identify an initial set of factors to frame the empirical study. This is followed by semi-structured interviews with ten project managers. The findings indicate that five key factors, namely mutual absorptive capacity, mutual learning intent, mutual trust, mutual disseminative capacity and project staff turnover influence knowledge transfer in outsourced IS projects. The results suggest that development and management of the resources, processes and behaviors implied by these factors are vital to ensure successful inter-organizational knowledge transfer and to reverse or minimize the failure rates of outsourced IS projects. The study concludes with implications for research and practice

Knowledge transfer in on-collocated software architecture development: From the perspective of analysts and software architects

Learning within software development involves the transfer of knowledge between different yet interdependent functional teams.In reality however, these teams often create islands of knowledge due mostly to indistinct flow of knowledge transfer (KT), thus fail to take advantage of the opportunity to learn from each other.Taking the non"collocated software architecture development teams as a challenge, the goal of this study is to investigate the nature of KT that occurs between the analyst and software architect teams in non-collocated software architecture development.Data are collected from semi"structured interviews with 30 respondents consisting of industrial experts ranging from analyst, software architects and project managers.We managed to gather sufficient evidence that proves KT occurs, and successfully characterize the areas of knowledge used and exchanged, the interdependency between teams, the utilization of knowledge, the medium used for KT and finally, the external conditions surrounding KT during non" collocated software architecture development.These findings are useful as they rest a good understanding of KT and its vital elements in non-collocated software architecture development for all prospective researchers and practitioners

Why does site visit matter in global software development: A knowledge-based perspective

Abstract not availableMansooreh Zahedi, Muhammad Ali Baba

Knowledge transfer in software-maintenance offshore outsourcing

Software-maintenance offshore outsourcing (SMOO) projects have been plagued by tedious knowledge transfer during the service transition to the vendor. Vendor engineers risk being over-strained by the high amounts of novel information, resulting in extra costs that may erode the business case behind offshoring. Although stakeholders may desire to avoid these extra costs by implementing appropriate knowledge transfer practices, little is known on how effective knowledge transfer can be designed and managed in light of the high cognitive loads in SMOO transitions. The dissertation at hand addresses this research gap by presenting and integrating four studies. The studies draw on cognitive load theory, attributional theory, and control theory and they apply qualitative, quantitative, and simulation methods to qualitative data from eight in-depth longitudinal cases. The results suggest that the choice of appropriate learning tasks may be more central to knowledge transfer than the amount of information shared with vendor engineers. Moreover, because vendor staff may not be able to and not dare to effectively self-manage learn-ing tasks during early transition, client-driven controls may be initially required and subsequently faded out. Collectively, the results call for people-based rather than codification-based knowledge management strategies in at least moderately specific and complex software environments

Pre-Evaluation Results of Project KMS Artifact

The document contains the protocols and results of the three workshops and the pilot study conducted in the pre-evaluation of the ADR projec

Towards a functional petroleum industry in Nigeria :a critical analysis of Nigeria's petroleum industry reform

PhD ThesisThis thesis seeks to enquire into the role of law in the reform programme for the Nigerian petroleum industry (NPI), in order to determine the extent to which it can be utilised to actualise a functional petroleum industry. The thesis will seek to test the hypothesis that an effectively managed petroleum industry will be efficiently regulated, have a significant local content, and will invariably be dependent on how sustainable and efficient petroleum revenues are distributed. My significant contribution to knowledge is that Nigeria should seek to develop local content and industry regulation, and aim to effectively distribute petroleum revenues, by pursuing industry reforms as an integrated whole. To that extent, it would require a coherent legal framework, and the development of policies that recognise the interconnectedness and interdependency of several factors in the petroleum industry. To that extent, a suitable and strategic legal architecture should be erected in Nigeria: one that will give room for co-operation without stifling independence and innovation. This thesis also notes that the development of a viable National oil company is imperative and should be anchored around which other industry reforms should revolve. Such a firm should however be privatised in a manner that guarantees its performance and promotes good corporate governance, whilst limiting avenues for external interference. It advocates that Nigeria should seek a national oil company model that is deliberately tailored to restrain ‘external interference’ in the daily workings of the NOC. Finally, this thesis argues that for an efficient regulation and management of the industry will require the active participation of all actors in the industry, and that the government should not have prerogative over the industry, especially in the light of past failures to effectively turn the industry around. There should thus be a deliberate effort to restrain government interference in the NOC, empower citizens in regulation and encourage the development of indigenous petroleum exploration and production companies (PEPCs), while in utilization of petroleum resources; there should be direct citizenship participation.ETF Scholarship, University of Ibadan, Nigeria