The emergence of a new form of IS offshore enterprise - The modern heterarchy
Abstract
This paper describes how IS offshoring organisations are changing in response to increased
globalisation of the practice of software development. It posits the emergence of a new form of multinational enterprise (MNE), described in this paper as a ‘modern heterarchy’, from the construct of the
heterarchy originally developed by Gunnar Hedlund in 1986. The paper draws on theoretical
antecedents in the discipline of international business studies, and is supported by empirical data
gathered from two extended case studies of offshore IS projects. The research uses grounded theory
techniques for the collection and analysis of data, and has particular value for IS practitioners in
offshore IS MNEs.
Recommended Citation
Gannon, Brian and Wilson, David, "The emergence of a new form of IS offshore enterprise - The modern heterarchy" (2009). ECIS 2009 Proceedings. 403.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2009/403