DocumentCode :
894654
Title :
Communication Metaphors-in-Use: Technical Communication and Offshore Systems Development
Author :
Wareham, Jonathan ; Mahnke, Volker ; Peters, Sanjay ; Bjorn-Andersen, Niels
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Inf. Syst., Univ. of Ramon Llull, Barcelona
Volume :
50
Issue :
2
fYear :
2007
fDate :
6/1/2007 12:00:00 AM
Firstpage :
93
Lastpage :
108
Abstract :
Communication metaphors have been applied extensively to understand the managerial performance and organizational behavior of a single firm. However, fewer attempts have been made to apply communication metaphors to understand the dynamics of interfirm relations, or offshore partnerships. While all outsourcing contracts pose well-understood challenges, offshoring partnerships are often further complicated by culture and maturity/capability differences. Our analysis employs the results of a case study to delineate the different conversational metaphors that emerged from four discrete phases of offshore information systems development. Offshore success is contingent upon successful technical communication which is mediated through communication metaphors-in-use between vendor and client. In instances where management cannot directly dictate emergent conversational styles, it can determine organizational structure, coordination processes, contract and device incentives, and task allocation in order to cultivate a communication metaphor-in-use most appropriate to the specific phase of the offshore partnership, thereby mitigating many of the complications posed by culture and maturity differences
Keywords :
DP management; contracts; organisational aspects; outsourcing; professional communication; socio-economic effects; IT outsourcing; cross-cultural elements; interfirm relations; managerial performance; offshore information system development communication metaphors; offshore partnerships; organizational behavior; organizational structure; technical communication; Contracts; Costs; Cultural differences; Informatics; Information analysis; Management information systems; Outsourcing; Professional communication; Quality assurance; Quality management; Communication; metaphor; offshore; outsourcing; systems development;
fLanguage :
English
Journal_Title :
Professional Communication, IEEE Transactions on
Publisher :
ieee
ISSN :
0361-1434
Type :
jour
DOI :
10.1109/TPC.2007.897585
Filename :
4220771
Link To Document :
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