How far is IS/IT outsourcing enabling new organizational structure and competences?
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TL;DR
It is argued that the growth of the IS/IT vendor industry, stimulated by the increased demand for outsourcing, is creating a new professional service firm relationship for the IS function.
Abstract
In this paper we investigate information systems/information technology (IS/IT) outsourcing by large corporate companies. During 1994, 12 interviews were held in ‘Times 150’ companies in each case with the senior person chiefly responsible for information systems. Our data are based on their knowledge and understanding of the company's business and its approach to IS/IT outsourcing. We report the interviewees' accounts of the drivers for IS/IT outsourcing, the organizational structure of the IS/IT function, human resource management and the changing organizational ownership of IS/IT competences. Large organizations, along with the public sector, are resourcing a new network of organizations of IS/IT technical professionals and knowledge workers. We argue that the growth of the IS/IT vendor industry, stimulated by the increased demand for outsourcing, is creating a new professional service firm relationship for the IS function.