Exploring the Assumed Benefits of Global Software Development

In existing global software development (GSD) literature, much focus has been on identifying the challenges that practitioners may face (such as socio-cultural and temporal distance issues), while potential benefits have not been extensively analyzed. We reverse this trend by studying these potential benefits. We question whether they are well-founded assumptions and whether they are attainable in practice. This paper presents findings from a multi-case study at three multi-national companies that have extensive experience in GSD. We identify the benefits mentioned in GSD literature, analyze them with regards to the companies´ experiences and then conclude whether or not each benefit is being realized in practice. Our findings reveal that the realization of the assumed benefits cannot be simply taken for granted