Human resources issues, challenges and strategies in the Indian software industry

Abstract

This paper explores the burgeoning Indian software services industry by focusing on one of its critical challenges: human resource management. Using in-depth interviews of various stakeholders from a representative range of Indian software services organisations, the authors investigate characteristics of Indian software professionals and some of the key human-resource related issues and challenges in the industry: namely, voluntary attrition, reluctance to make a transition from technical to management positions, lack of managerial skills, difficulties with teamwork, work preferences and maintaining work-family balance. Finally, organisational strategies to effectively manage and motivate software professionals, such as moving up the value chain, creating learning opportunities, bifurcated career path, facilitating wealth generation and conducive work environment are explored.