E-Readiness of SMEs (ICT) of Pakistan E-assessment of software industry

Abstract

E-Readiness is entrepreneruail readiness to participate in globalization using information and communication technologies. The globalization process is an entrepreneurial opportunity for entreprenerurs as it acts as a gateway among the different nations, firms and individuals of the world. Due to this globalization, the manufacturing and services sectors are deploying Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) at 360 o in small, medium and large enterprises around the globe. Therefore, E-readiness of small and medium enteprires of ICT sector has become mandatory for every country of the world as an effect of globalization. In fact, multinational enterprises of developed countries are off shoring/outsourcing their information systems development and deployment work to software development firms (small, medium and large) operating in developing countries to minimize cost and maximize profit. These waves of globalization are equipped with threats, opportunities, failure and success. Therefore, entrepreneurs/owners of these SMEs are required to understand this change and prepared their firms to adapt it. The present research is entrepreneurial assessment to test either SMEs of (ICT) of Pakistan are adequately ready (proficient) to absorb these waves wisely or not? So, an entrepreneruail assessment of these SMEs an control threats, grasp opportunities, avoid failure and achieve success or not. The present research nomenclature is comprised on two parts. The Part-I based on investigation of critical success factors in offshore software ventures/projects and Part-II was an entrepreneurial assessment of SMEs in software industry. To achieve these objectives, case study, survey and consultantive approach was applied to investigate the ixcritical success factors in global software venture/projects; an extensive questionnaire survey was conducted to test the entrepreneurial readiness (ICT resources and human capital capability) of SMEs in software industry of Pakistan. The SPSS was used for statistical analysis. Principle component analysis technique applied to investigate critical success factors from investigated common factors that were fueld by survey and cosultative approach. The quantitative proportion method was applied to test the readiness of software firms from ICT infrastructure and human capital perspective. The units of analysis were project, firm and individual for case study, questionnaire survey, and field experiment relatively. The findings of study included the ten critical success factors for offshore software projects. The SMEs are found entrepreneurially ready from technology infrastructure perspective while human capital in SMEs (ICT) found fully deficit of project management and analytical skills and partially deficit in software engineering skills. It was revealed that SMEs (ICT) are fully equipped with IT- infrastructure and ready to participate in global venture or offshore projects. It was found that SMEs are not equipped with software development process (CMM). It is first time that a comprehensive research is being conducted on this topic for small and medium software development firms in national software industry of Pakistan.