Title: Exploring the impact of team rapport and empowerment on information processing and project performance in outsourced system development

Authors: Stella D. Tomasi; Neeraj N. Parolia; Chaodong Han; Tobin Porterfield

Addresses: College of Business and Economics, Towson University, 8000 York Road, Towson, MD 21252-0001, USA ' College of Business and Economics, Towson University, 8000 York Road, Towson, MD 21252-0001, USA ' College of Business and Economics, Towson University, 8000 York Road, Towson, MD 21252-0001, USA ' College of Business and Economics, Towson University, 8000 York Road, Towson, MD 21252-0001, USA

Abstract: Offshoring of information systems development (ISD) projects has become increasingly popular among companies seeking reduced project costs, increased productivity, and improved quality and schedule performance. However, offshore ISD project teams face tremendous challenges, including unclear responsibilities, lack of trust and information sharing and difficulty in creating collaborative solutions. Extant studies in the management of offshore project teams have failed to address empowerment and rapport as sources of project success. To fill this gap, this study uses a social capital perspective to develop a research model and estimates a path analytic model using data from surveys of 194 participants in offshore ISD project teams. We find that team building, rapport among team members and empowerment of team members all contribute to improved information processing, which in turn leads to improved project team performance.

Keywords: team empowerment; team building; social capital; offshore projects; ISD projects; information processing; team rapport; project performance; system development outsourcing; project teams; information systems development; ISD offshoring; project management; project success.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPOM.2015.070794

International Journal of Project Organisation and Management, 2015 Vol.7 No.3, pp.284 - 305

Received: 04 Jul 2012
Accepted: 20 Nov 2012
Published online: 25 Jul 2015 *

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