A framework for efficient use of electronic communication tools for knowledge transfer for agile offshore development of financial software applications in India

Sustainable competitive advantage in a hyper competitive field like software development depends on the effective utilization of available knowledge. Since traditional approaches of capturing, organizing and distributing knowledge are static, they are highly ineffective in agile software development environments. This case study determines the most efficient Internet enabled electronic communication tool for transferring tacit knowledge in agile offshore software development environments. Data was analyzed using grounded theory. Results of the study revealed that a combination of e-communication tools is the most optimum method of transferring knowledge. A framework of e-communication tools for transferring knowledge in agile offshore software development environments was developed by combining the results of the study with elements of Technology Acceptance Model 2 (TAM2).