Software Export Success Factors and Strategies in ‘Follower’ Nations

Many countries world-wide are becoming active or interested in software exports. This paper initially analyses the software export experiences of India, Ireland and Israel; the three largest software ‘followers’ (those which developed a software industry after the 1970s). It develops a new ‘Software Export Success Model’ on the basis of that analysis. This model, having been developed as a descriptive/analytical framework, is then applied in a number of ways. First, as a comparative framework, helping to identify current strengths and weaknesses of two ‘second-tier’ followers – Russia and China – as compared particularly with India. Secondly, as a predictive foundation for understanding likely sectoral trajectories within these second-tier nations. Finally, as a prescriptive foundation from which guidance can be derived on the strategies and interventions that these countries may need to adopt for software export growth. As well as demonstrating the value of this new framework for conceptual analysis, this paper also shows how it can have practical value to policy-makers, industry association representatives, consultants and others involved with software sector strategy. Although beyond the scope of this paper, it appears that the model will also serve as a framework for equivalent analysis and guidance for the many other follower nations who have recently entered into software exports.