Most　studies　of　software　outsourcing　focus　on　how　to　manage　outsourcing　from　the　perspective　of　the　outsourcer.　There　are　few　studies　of　outsourcing　presented　from　the　viewpoint　of　the　supplier.　Given　that　more　and　more　Chinese　software　companies　are　getting　software　outsourcing　subcontracts　from　all　over　the　world,　it　is　important　to　understand　how　software　outsourcing　projects　are　actually　performed　in　China,　and　to　identify　ways　in　which　performance　might　be　improved.　Our　study　first　collected　data　through　a　questionnaire-based　survey　from　53　finished　projects　in　41　Chinese　software　suppliers.　A　follow-up　study　was　performed　by　telephone　interviews　with　11　participants,　to　find　explanations　for　phenomena　revealed　by　the　preceding　survey.　The　results　show　that:　(a)　differences　in　natural　languages　are　not　a　real　obstacle　for　Chinese　software　suppliers;　(b)　e-mail　is　most　used　to　discuss　issues　related　to　development,　while　face-to-face　meetings　are　mainly　used　to　discuss　issues　related　to　management　and　requirements;　and　(c)　the　two　main　reasons　for　overtime　work　at　the　Chinese　suppliers　are　changes　to　the　design　or　requirements　that　are　proposed　by　the　outsourcers　and　the　suppliers＇　initial　underestimation　of　the　effort　required.　Copyright　©　2008　John　Wiley　&　Sons,　Ltd.