IT outsourcing is now a global industry, which increasingly brings together diverse cultures, processes and working practices. However, without an in-depth understanding of the key cultural issues involved, the aims of this global marketplace frequently fall short resulting in misunderstanding, project delays, cultural insensitivity and ultimately, lost opportunities.

Lack of understanding of each other’s cultures has been one of the major causes for outsourcing projects to fail. This has been cited by almost every experienced customer and vendor who has learnt lessons through ‘ordeal by fire’. However organisations can alleviate several of the predictable cross-cultural problems they are likely to encounter by having an appreciation of the issues that differences in culture can raise.

Sunit Jilla has over 24 years of international software industry experience and is focused on facilitating successful business partnerships between India and overseas, with:

	first-hand experience of living and working abroad as a software professional and consultant, with a wealth of anecdotes and examples of the difficulties faced while travelling overseas with basic and sometimes inadequate training and preparedness.
	a highly developed awareness of cultural differences and how appropriate communication can strengthen project teams.
	the ability to present key issues clearly and succinctly, with a wide repertoire in public speaking engagements and in-house training seminars.