Determinants of Success in Export Oriented Software Industry : Bangladesh Perspective

Many developing countries are involved in software exports, most remarkably India, Ireland and Israel. Jordan, Argentina, and Sri Lanka are some of the aspirant countries who are giving efforts to enter the global software marketplace by developing different strategies. Using the success criteria developed by Heeks and Nicholson (2002), with its adaptation by Carmel (2003), this paper analyzes one such country, Bangladesh. In the analysis process primary data collected from 30 software exporting houses of the country along with secondary data from the different published sources were used. Having the strengths of its low-cost human capital, the paper defines areas where Bangladesh needs to improve. Discussed areas are: technological infrastructure (specifically internet connection), lack of diaspora links, financial infrastructure weaknesses, and the lack of comprehensive and shared vision and strategy by the committed group of government officials and private entrepreneurs. It then draws some conclusions about recommended actions to overcome these problems and become a successful software exporter