Virtual software teams: overcoming the obstacles

As a result of the sustained popularity of Global Software Development (GSD) many organisations are increasingly leveraging this strategy to establish virtual software teams. In this paper the results from research undertaken with two Irish based companies who both utilised a virtual software team strategy is presented. One company had partnered with an organisation located in the US to develop and maintain software. The other company was the Irish division of a US multinational company who had partnered with a division in the Far East to undertake their software testing. We also describe particular cases of concern which both organisations experienced and discuss how they were addressed. Following the research in both companies, and based on the results from both of these cases, the researchers developed a framework to support the management of virtual software teams. Given the importance of GSD to the software industry this experience should be of value to anyone interested in outsourcing and virtual team software development and maintenance.