Knowledge Content in Outsourced Information Systems Development Projects. Insights from an Exploratory Study of a Developing Country

Academic Paper from the year 2018 in the subject Business economics - Information Management, grade: A, language: English, abstract: This paper presents an exploratory study of knowledge content in outsourced Information systems development projects within the context of a developing economy, in general, and Ethiopia, in particular. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten project managers to identify the relevant knowledge types in information systems outsourcing. The results indicate that six knowledge types, namely business domain knowledge, technical knowledge, information systems application knowledge, organizational knowledge, adapted information systems development methodology knowledge, and newly generated project-specific knowledge are important in information systems development outsourcing. The analysis suggests that the identified knowledge areas are not completely independent, but rather they are complementary. Both knowledge types are necessary for the development of information systems. Moreover, neither the client nor the vendor possesses the full range of the required knowledge. The paper then argues that the very generic classification of knowledge has limitation to provide a complete specification of the knowledge items needed in information systems outsourcing context. It also notes that the knowledge content in outsourcing arrangements of Ethiopia is characterized by inadequate and unrelated knowledge transfer between outsourcing partners; less attention paid by vendors to knowledge about the clients existing systems and IT landscape; and low level of awareness about the knowledge content with regard to know-why of using a new system or technology.