Managing IT Outsourcing

The business landscape is changing. Outsourcing is now a growing phenomenon in which specific functions are subcontracted to specialist companies, often elsewhere in the world. IT represents a particular case for outsourcing, both in terms of benefits and potential inter-organizational problems.

Deciding whether to keep IT in-house or to whether outsource it is a key management responsibility. Once a decision for outsourcing has been made, relationships with external provider(s) have to be established and managed. This book combines both research and practical examples to explore how this can be done successfully.

Uniquely, the book provides a governance model for such partnerships, exploring the risks and responsibilities involved for both parties. Drawing on the theories of interfirm networks and the boundaries of the firm, here, it provides an accessible and cutting-edge perspective.

Incorporating industry examples from a global network of companies (including four case specific chapters), this book investigates partnerships in industrial sectors and IT functions. An invaluable resource for those involved in IT and new technology management as well as strategic business management and planning, this book presents all the necessary theory with an indispensable practical perspective.

The business landscape is changing. Outsourcing is now a growing phenomenon in which specific functions are subcontracted to specialist companies, often elsewhere in the world. IT represents a particular case for outsourcing, both in terms of benefits and potential inter-organizational problems.

Deciding whether to keep IT in-house or to whether outsource it is a key management responsibility. Once a decision for outsourcing has been made, relationships with external provider(s) have to be established and managed. This book combines both research and practical examples to explore how this can be done successfully.

Uniquely, the book provides a governance model for such partnerships, exploring the risks and responsibilities involved for both parties. Drawing on the theories of interfirm networks and the boundaries of the firm, here, it provides an accessible and cutting-edge perspective.

Incorporating industry examples from a global network of companies (including four case specific chapters), this book investigates partnerships in industrial sectors and IT functions. An invaluable resource for those involved in IT and new technology management as well as strategic business management and planning, this book presents all the necessary theory with an indispensable practical perspective.

Erik Beulen, PhD, is employed at Tilburg University in the Netherlands as an assistant professor, associated with TIAS Business School and is also employed as a senior manager with Accenture. Erik has track record in acquiring large global outsourcing contracts. He obtained his Ph.D. from Tilburg University. His research concentrates on outsourcing, offshore outsourcing, governance and the management of outsourcing relationships. His papers have been published in journals such as European Management Journal and Communications Association for Information Systems and the proceedings of the HICSS and ICIS. Erik has contributed chapters in editorial books of Wendy Currie, Wim van Grembergen and Erran Carmel. He is also the author and co-author of various Dutch language books on the subject of outsourcing and offshore outsourcing.

Pieter Ribbers is Professor of Information Management at Tilburg University, the Netherlands.

Jan Roos is Emeritus Professor of Information Systems at Tilburg University, the Netherlands.