A Pragmatic Approach to Agile Software Development with Offshoring

by Ben D. Radhakrishnan

Agile software development and agile project management (APM) practices have started to take root in several US companies, and many of these same companies have begun outsourcing software development to offshore companies. Because the agile process requires a very high level of communication and interaction among team members, it calls for all trained team members to be colocated. One of the core values of APM -- "individuals and interactions over process and tools" -- is realized in part through a colocated team. US companies have recently ventured into having agile teams in different parts of the country. However, combining agile methodology with offshoring poses new challenges and has thus been recognized as a very difficult step to take.