Cultural Challenges in Software Outsourcing

Explore strategies to navigate Cultural Challenges in software outsourcing for enhanced global collaboration and competitive advantage.

Drawing from our company’s 30 year history, this article outlines what Cultural Challenges to expect and how to overcome them.

Crafting a Winning Strategy

Strategy is about consciously designing and implementing well-considered plans that are different from those of competitors, with a particular focus on quality, niche markets and sustainability.

In this article, I share some thoughts and experiences on how to differentiate your business.

Humans or AI

Nowadays we often hear that AI is likely to soon replicate human intelligence and experience. But is this a realistic claim?

In this article highlights differences between AI and humans in regards to empathy, creativity, and consciousness.

The Enneagram model can help to manage the corporate culture, boost team dynamics, and navigate business challenges effectively.

This article explains the benefits of understanding diverse behaviours and their contributions to the common good.

Sun Tzus The Art of War

How can businesses gain strategic insights like understanding the market, innovation, building strategic alliances, and leadership?

This article suggests that one way could be to acquire ancient timeless wisdom from Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War”

Listen understand not to reply and building stronger relationships

How can we embrace empathy, vulnerability, and compassion in conversations and turn mere exchanges into lasting, meaningful connections?

This article is inspired by John DiJulius’ enlightening article, “Meet as a Stranger, Leave as a Friend”

DEBATT: Artificiell intelligens – framtidslöfte eller dystopiskt hot?

This is a translated article published in the Swedish online newspaper Bulletin. It discusses the potential dangers of unregulated AI.

We must ensure a balanced development of AI, stressing the need for ethical and legal frameworks to ensure AI benefits humanity.

Embracing the Future: How AI is Reshaping Business Decision-Making

This article explores AI’s transformative impact on business decision-making.

Highlighting advancements in AI technologies like deep learning, predictive analytics, and their strategic applications in enhancing efficiency, customer experiences, and risk management.

Exploring Desire lines – Embracing Natural User Behaviour in Urban Planning, Software Development, and AI.

This article covers the concept of desired path and how it shows up in a lot of different areas.

Illustration depicting the transformative impact of Large Language Models (LLMs) in a business environment.

Discover how Large Language Models are impacting the workforce and business operations.

Looking at the profound impacts of AI on job roles, innovation, and efficiency, offering a glimpse of a business future shaped by advanced technology

In the last 20 years our attention span has dwindled from 2 1/2 minutes to just 47 seconds, largely due to increased technology use.

This article delves into the real-world impact of this shift, exploring the myths of multitasking and offering strategies to reclaim focus.

GPT-4 Turbo

GPT-4 Turbo: a transformative AI tool enhancing creative sectors with updated knowledge, advanced features, and legal support.

Almost one year since the original release of ChatGPT, OpenAI releases a major update!

Work From Home or From the office

The pandemic transformed our professional lives, compelling a mass migration to home offices. The ease of logging on from our living rooms seemed to spell the end for traditional work environments.

Yet, as the tides of the pandemic recede, the office is calling us back, and the reasons are compelling.

Business Startups: Common Pitfalls and Successfactors

We have 30 years of experience helping Startups succeed!

Here are some common reasons for failures such as survivor bias and trying to emulate someone else’s success and some methods to succeed are Skin in the game, PoCs and MVPs.

Cloud Cost Management

Unlock the secrets of efficient cloud cost management for SMEs. Discover proven techniques to monitor usage, optimise storage, and streamline compute resources.

Please contact us for a free consultation!

Event management software

Gislen Software’s unique approach to providing onsite support at the EACTS Annual Conference in Vienna. Highlighting the importance of proactiveness, adaptability, and teamwork,

We developed EACTS Event Management Software and support them for their annual conferences.

Noble-Purpose Leadership

Dive into the transformative world of Noble-Purpose Leadership—a necessary evolution from traditional Servant Leadership.

Discover its core principles, benefits, and real-world applications for driving sustained organisational success and social impact.

Work-Life Harmony

Work-Life Balance doesn’t really work. Instead we need to look for a more holistic way of integrating work and life.

This article suggests to instead look for Work-life Harmony, where life and work are integrated and where you don’t see work as a means to an end but as an important part of your life!

Find great IT supplier in India

India has long been a powerhouse in information technology and software services, and has established itself as a destination for European businesses seeking high-quality software services.

This article explores how to benefit from developing software in India.

India's moon landing

India’s successful soft-landing on the moon is a reminder of how humanity can reach far when we have a vision and execute it right!

Here is some reflections and learnings which we can apply in our normal day-to-day life here on earth as well!

Becoming carbon-neutral isn’t just a ‘nice to have’ It’s a strategic imperative and it is becoming increasingly important!

This article describes our journey and explains what you can do. It is easier, more cost-effective, and more beneficial than you think

Meetings

Why do we waste time in inefficient meeting?

Here are some thoughts on having clear objectives, selective attendance, effective leadership, and follow-ups, aiming at transforming meetings from time-wasters to productive, collaborative platforms.

For the last accounting year 2022-23 we contributed to two different United Nations sponsored projects in India.

However the total number of carbon equivalents was still three times our actual footprint of 160 tons.

Pioneering and Strategic Paths

Explore the intricate weave of business strategy through the poetic lens of Robert Frost’s ‘The Road Not Taken’.

Discover how daring to tread the less traveled path can shape your company’s future and make all the difference in this insightful piece on how to make the right decisions.

AI chatbots

Discover the revolution of intelligent AI chatbots in customer support that understand your business and improve customer experience.

Thanks to the ChatGPT revolution it is now possible for any business to build an amazing chat support function.

Discover the potential of generative AI for small businesses and start-ups.

In this article we share some of our ideas on how to leverage this powerful technology to enhance operations, personalise services, and streamline processes.

Cybersecurity in 2023

Discover the current state of cybersecurity, the implications of AI, and the importance of a proactive approach in threat detection.

We cover the present landscape and explain the present situation, and we explore methods for more secure approaches in the digital age.

How to survive the Generative AI revolution

Discover how to thrive in the evolving workplace with Generative AI.

This article describes how you can use Generative AI, what soft skills you need to develop, and how Generative AI can increase productivity, creativity, and career success.

Web Scraping Threats

Discover the threat of web scraping and learn how to safeguard your business.

This article gives an understanding of scraping attacks and some strategies to combat them, including CAPTCHA, rate limiting, and Web Application Firewalls

Agile Methodologies

Navigating the complexities of agile projects when working with software contractors can be challenging.

In this article, we explore the main hurdles companies face, from aligning with company culture to managing contractual issues.

Open Innovation

Open innovation is a key to growth and a in getting more value in outsourcing. When parties join forces with distinct and complementary strengths, remarkable results can be achieved.

This article also shows how mitigation of cultural challenges can yield even more value!

Cyber security

Explore cybersecurity and gain practical insights on what to think of in order to build a successful partnership with a software development firm.

This article gives practical advice on what to consider and how to decide on an outsourcing partner

Debunking the 10% AI threat claim

Is it true that “Half of AI researchers believe there’s a 10% chance AI will kill us all.” Well, the claim is based on a survey with only 162 respondents, and the survey question itself is vague.

So, while we don’t say that AI is harmless, don’t lose any sleep, at least not yet!

agile metrics

Explore the power of metrics in agile development as a tool for continuous improvement and optimisation.

Using the right metrics, make them visible, and use them collaboratively to enhance team performance while steering clear of potential pitfalls.

Agile teams

Discover how to effectively collaborate with outsourced agile development teams and overcome common challenges in this insightful article.

Discover how communication, culture, quality control, and trust contribute to successful projects and foster business growth.

Technical debt is like a Gordian knot

Technical debt is inevitable in software development, resulting from prioritising short-term gains over long-term sustainability.

This article discusses the term and how to effectively untangle the Gordian knot to avoid and reduce technical debts effectively.

Advanced Prompting with ChatGPT

While ChatGPT is a powerful tool in itself. It may not consistently deliver the expected value.

In this article, we will explore eight different advanced prompt engineering techniques with detailed examples that will help you improve the results of using ChatGPT.

Generative Artificial Intelligence

Generative AI raises concerns, prominent figures such as Elon Musk call for a pause in development.

However, recognising the economy’s ability to adapt and grow is crucial. Focusing on economic growth while addressing risks and sensible policies can lead to a promising future for us all.

Manifesto for Agile Software Development. We are uncovering better ways of developing software by doing it and helping others do it. Through this work we have come to value: Individuals and interactions over processes and tools Working software over comprehensive documentation Customer collaboration over contract negotiation Responding to change over following a plan. That is, while there is value in the items on the right, we value the items on the left more. Kent Beck James Grenning Robert C. Martin Mike Beedle Jim Highsmith Steve Mellor Arie van Bennekum Andrew Hunt Ken Schwaber Alistair Cockburn Ron Jeffries Jeff Sutherland Ward Cunningham Jon Kern Dave Thomas Martin Fowler Brian Marick. © 2001, the above authors this declaration may be freely copied in any form, but only in its entirety through this notice. 6.

The Agile Manifesto, born from dissatisfaction with traditional methodologies, revolutionised the software industry.

Its future depends on practitioners’ commitment to upholding the core values and adapting methodologies to evolving circumstances,

In the wake of OpenAI’s GPT-4 released in February 2023 and Microsoft and Google’s announcements of new AI-based assistants, our team has been hard at work developing an innovative tool that will reshape how developers work.

We need beta testers! Do you want to help us?

Expertise and Cultural Synergy

The general outlook may look bleak, but startups are still confident about the opportunities and are looking at outsourcing as a strategy.

In this article we share what we believe startups needs to consider in order to succeed with outsourcing of software development

This article reiterates Mark Twain’s words – Find a job you enjoy, and you will never have to work a day. It emphasises the need for satisfaction at work to avoid stress and burnout.

Fulfilling a job is one of the best means to express our ideas and passion and showcase our skills.

Streamlining Success: How DevOps Practices are Accelerating Software Development and Deployment

At Gislen Software, we have worked with various Agile methodologies and practices for many years. We know how to use and apply them for offshore software development.

This article gives an overview of DevOps, and how to use it to succeed with software outsourcing.

GPT may be the Spinning Jenny Moment for office workers

Spinning Jenny was one of the most significant innovations of the industrial revolution, disrupting the lives of the working class. Generative AI may have a similar impact on office workers.

This article describes potential god and bad impacts of the last weeks announcements.

Data security and privacy are paramount. As a software outsourcing company, we understand the responsibility of handling sensitive information.

This article outlines our commitment to data security and privacy

OpenAI released GPT-4 on March 14. It is significantly enhanced compared to GPT-3.5 and can now even interpret images. It can work with eight times as much text as its predecessor, and its output quality is significantly improved.

Here is an article which gives some idea about what we can expect!

Software Outsourcing to India

Outsourcing being a novelty when Mikael Gislén started Gislen Software, became a trend in the late 1990s and has since become mainstream. India is still the prime destination for software outsourcing.

This article describes why and what speaks for outsourcing to India.

In our recent annual customer satisfaction survey, 100% said they were very satisfied or satisfied, and 95% that they would recommend us!

In total, 21 respondents answered Gislen Software’s annual customer survey covering almost all our clients. We are grateful for the fantastic feedback!

Green-IT

Green IT is a term which covers how IT can reduce its environmental impact. IT likely stands for more greenhouse gases than air travel and will likely increase its environmental footprint.

This article gives a background to how the IT sector affects the environment and it also suggests ways we all can reduce our environmental footprint.

Artificial Intelligence has been around for more than 50 years. But the use and impact of AI has only exploded in recent years. Improved hardware has increased performance dramatically.

This article gives an overview of the past and current development and some of the benefits and concerns of the expected development.

To improve your Password Security, you can use a picture to memorise a complex password made up of combined irrelated words.

I attended IT SMF Expo in Stockholm in 2022. In one of the seminars David Jacoby, a famous Swedish hacker, shared some tips on how to improve password security. I have tried to share what I learned but have done so with a few twists.

Why did I select a picture of a horse for an article on Password Security?

For the last accounting year 2021-22 we contributed to three different United Nations sponsored projects in India.

However the total number of carbon equivalents was still three times our actual footprint of 76 tons. The carbon footprint was low due to the pandemic.

Gravitational waves are disturbances or ripples in the curvature of space-time and we suggested that normal laptops could be used to detect them. 327 people read this April fool joke, and 65 people clicked through to the download page!

We have kept the story here for you to enjoy!

Offset carbon footprint

We have compensated three times our actual carbon footprint on three different projects. This is for the accounting year 1/4/2020-31/3/2021. Our carbon footprint for last year was only 96 tons. This was mainly due to the pandemic.

Here are the certificates!

Becoming a team leader

A personal article on how to become a team leader. It includes thoughtful advises on how to succeed, build a career and how to work with your team to be successful!

Reflect on your journey, embrace pride, overcome setbacks, acquire skills, and embark on a growth-filled exploration!

How to work from home effectively – a personal Perspective

Here are some ideas on how to work from home more effectively. Based on personal experience of one of our staff during the Covid-19 epidemic.

Even when life goes back to normal it may be useful to keep yourself organised and have some divisions between work and free time.

Discover and unleash your passion

Do you spend significant parts of your day on things you love to do? If not, then it is time to think!

In this article I share some thoughts on how to discover and unleash your passion and how to channelize it and be happy with who you are and what you do.

Chose to live

As the virus spreads, we react as though an apocalyptic event approaching. Many are demoralised, frightened, and unable to cope, leading to suicides and depression.

This is to reinstate and revive a ray of hope

Offsetting carbon footprint

We have compensated three times our actual carbon footprint to three projects. This is for the accounting year 1/4/2019-31/3/2020. Our carbon footprint was 125 tons.

Here are the certificates!

How to succeed during the Covid-19 pandemic

Covid-19 and the economic consequences are shaking the ground for almost every business. Here are some learnings from past economic recessions which may be applied to the present.

Winners are proactive and use the time to change and adapt and losers go into survival mode!

Covid-19

We are living in extraordinary times with the COVID-19 virus affecting our lives in many ways.

We prioritise the health and safety of our staff and we therefore work from home. However, we do our best to serve our clients with the same standards as usual!

Offsetting carbon footprint

We are carbon-neutral! We use a combination of solar panels, energy efficiency and offsetting the rest via credits such as trees, wind and hydropower!

We invested in solar panels in 2013. Since then we extended the plant, replaced light tubes with LED, and changed our old ACs to more efficient ACs.

25th anniversary celebration

Our 25th anniversary was celebrated on 25/9 in Chennai by visiting customers, employees, families and friends from other companies in MEPZ.

We proposed organising an annual marathon in MEPZ in 2014. Since 2015 we have sponsored all five incarnations of MEPZ Run!

GDPR compliant

GDPR has far-reaching consequences. Do you have personal data about customers, suppliers or employees including emails, databases, documents or photos?

This article covers most of what you need to learn and helps you to get GDPR compliant.

Autonomous or self-driving cars have made major inroads over the last few years. Nobody need a crystal ball to understand that there will soon be one in a garage near to you. Or perhaps it will not even need one. Autonomous cars already drives safer than humans.

Agile Development is becoming mainstream. At the same time, a lot of companies still don’t use it. Agile teams produce high-quality software faster and better and at a lower cost than what could be done using traditional methodologies. However, changing to agile development can be a challenge. Agile is a journey, and it may be […]

This document gives an overview of Penetration tests, attack vectors and how we develop for and are helping our clients to harden Microsoft Dot Net applications ahead of penetration tests. The document is not comprehensive but is intended as an overview.

Everyone speaks about the environment! At Gislen Software, we are serious about reducing our business’s effect on the environment. We started reducing our footprint many years back. In the last six months, we have replaced all light tubes with LED. We have replaced our ineffective air conditioners and bought new effective ones with the lowest […]

Let’s face it, getting the right fit for the job is not always a walk in the park. Some candidates radiate an outstanding vibe that shows they will be a great asset while their records speak otherwise. Some will have inch-perfect qualifications who have few soft skills. Even after decades of revolutionary transformation in hiring practices, the real basic technique on how to hire great people remains a tough row to hoe.

What are the Agile software development principles patterns and practices? This article will start you off and give some links to study further. The problem with early life cycle methodologies was that they led to overruns, defects and failed projects. Agile methodologies are iterative and there is learning along the way.

Good software developers are the unseen hero’s of this world. Good developers bring functionality and information in ways that are gloriously helpful (and bug free). See how many check boxes you strike off in our good developer checklist to inspire and challenge yourself. Maybe you too are a hero of the night.

Today, Gislen Software celebrated 21 years in business. Gislen Software is not your average software company

Gislen Software received one award for Best Services Exporter and one for Best Overall Exporter by ECGC & D&B

The Indian IT industry has very high attrition rates. However, at Gislen Software we have about 2-5%. This article tries to analyse why our employees stays.

Gislen Software was selected as an Award Winner in the SME Segment for excellence in the IT & IT Enabled Services sector.

‘‘It took almost a year to get there but Gislen Software was started in September 1994. On September 11, 2014 we celebrated 20 years in business. All our current employees with their families, along with some former employees were present. Our board members and some of our clients, important partners and Contacts from the city […]

Agile Methodologies during Agile India

Agile India is the largest Agile conference in Asia and has been arranged since 2005.

Our Managing Director spoke about quality and Agile methodologies and the challenges between formal management systems and being Agile.

Carbon-Neutral

We have just invested in solar panels on our roof! Power failures and power cuts are unusual in Western countries. Unfortunately, we have had more than our fair share in the last few years due to the electricity shortage. Keeping computers running is relatively easy with UPS and batteries, but running the air conditioning is […]

Gislen Software and e-man have started a strategic partnership. e-man has since 2007 worked with outsourcing in close collaboration with developers in India and the Philippines. e-man has, in these projects, learned to understand the challenges and the opportunities of such close collaboration. During recent years there has been increasing demand from the market that […]

Last week I attended the ‘Certified Scrum Master’ course and I am now a certified Scrum Master! I will have to take up an exam within 90 days to retain it though. While the course is still fresh in my mind, I wanted to write down some reflections on what I have learnt. Scrum is maybe […]