Paradigms for organizing a global IT workforce

ABSTRACT

This panel is intended to explore factors related to the successful management of Global IT initiatives. There are many unique challenges. Multi-national organizations often want to standardize the processes and systems they use. However, customization may be required to meet local requirements and compete with indigenous organizations. Operating across time zones, makes synchronous collaboration difficult. Rapid development methodologies, which usually require multiple design iterations, have to be modified. Cultural differences often require unique approaches to local management, but have to be bridged to support global initiatives. Interpretation of design communications may vary significantly from country to country. Management philosophies vary widely and management techniques are changing rapidly as collaboration technologies evolve. Successful organizations often use counter-intuitive models. A model for the characterization of global IT organizations, will be used to compare the approaches utilized by successful organizations, and discuss CSFs. Practitioners and academics on the panel will present cases related to CSFs, and interpret these cases with respect to management models.