Acme Software $($Scenario$)$

Acme Software is a U$.$S$.-$based maker of softw products for the health care industry. Recently Acme has been investigating whether it would beneficial to internationalize some of its valuechain activities. Acme hires a consulting group to help determine which, if any, value$-$chain activities could be conducted abroad to promote business growth. The consulting group identifies two health care software development companies in India that could provide programming services at a lower cost than Acme's current expenditures for programming. In addition, the consultants conduct international market research that shows that German health care companies have a strong demand for the type of software that Acme offers.

Which of the following would be most important for Acme to determine before outsourcing its programming services to India?

Do Indian businesses outsource value$-$chain activities to Europe?

Would the lower cost of outsourcing allow Acme to sustain a competitive advantage in its business operations?

What benefits have Indian companies gained historically from internationalizing their value$-$chain activities?

Is either of the Indian health care companies interested in moving their operations abroad?