Virtual workgroups in offshore systems development

The market for offshore systems development, motivated by lower costs in developing countries, is expected to increase and reach about $15 billion in the year 2007. Virtual workgroups supported by computer and communication technologies enable offshore systems development. This article discusses the limitations of using virtual work in offshore systems development, and describes development processes and management procedures amenable to virtual work in offshore development projects. It also describes a framework to use virtual work selectively, while offshore developing various types of information systems.