Background:
This research project, funded by the Sloan Foundation, aims to understand the Indian software industry and its links to the outside world, especially the United States. It commenced in the Fall of 1997.
Objectives
The project has two main objectives. First, to build a picture of the
Indian software industry, its technical strengths and weaknesses and to
develop a detailed description of the industry participants. This includes how companies got started and the backgrounds of the promoters. The second objective is to identify and describe how Indian software firms link to their customers in the US.
Specifically this project examines the services Indian software firms provide to the US customers, the industries they serve, and the type of contractual arrangements. Also, the effect of Quality certifications and process initiatives on the performance of software service firms.
Another area under study is the supply of human capital - of software professionals, programmers and the like in this industry. For this the role of the universities, colleges and other training institutes are considered.