Challenges in Geographically Distributed Information System Development : A Case Study

Geographically distributed information system development (ISD) projects are more and more common, especially among organisations operating in global markets. Distributed ISD yields potential competitive advantages by developing new products near the target markets, utilizing global labour markets, and exposing the organisation to innovations, ideas and new paradigms. However, distributed ISD also presents challenges and problems which organisations must take into consideration. The pivotal challenge is usually communication. People working on the same project in different locations find it difficult to communicate due to lack of formal and informal face-to-face communication, different working cultures and languages, and time difference. In this study, we set out to investigate what challenges may rise in geographically distributed ISD, and how these challenges and problems of geographical distribution could be mitigated.