Software development offshoring competitiveness: A case study of ASEAN countries

Abstract

With the success of offshoring within the American software industry, corporate executives are moving their software developments overseas. The member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have become a preferred destination. However, there is a lack of published studies on the region's software competitiveness in comparison to other offshoring countries. This research uses five country factors identified by subject-matter experts to compare the ASEAN's software offshoring competitiveness against 25 selected countries in the world. It analyzes the region's competitiveness from various perspectives such as Government vision and policy, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Industry's global maturity, Information and Communication Technology framework, Wages, and Human Capital development. The findings are relevant for Western countries looking to partner with ASEAN countries for software offshoring purpose