Global Outsourcing

Global Outsourcing of IT Functions

Research Proposal

Clay T. Christensen

July 31, 2013

Abstract

The business world is ever changing and gaining and sustaining a competitive advantage can mean the difference between success and failure. Information technology (IT) is a key to gaining this advantage and for a business to stay competitive; they must outsource many of their IT functions. What is outsourcing? Outsourcing is transferring some or all of a company’s IT activities to a third party that performs them on behalf of the enterprise (McKeen & Smith, 2012).

There are two types of outsourcing, nearshore and offshore. The focus of this research will be centered on offshore outsourcing. Offshore outsourcing is better known as global outsourcing and this will be discussed in relation to information technology functions. Companies are outsourcing everything from operations and help desks to maintenance and development (McKeen & Smith, 2012).

Global outsourcing affects many things in the business environment as well as in the public domain. For instance, there are risks associated with outsourcing IT functions. These risks include sending jobs away from the home country. There is, however, always another side to the story. In this case, there are risks for not getting involved in global outsourcing and the biggest risk is losing the competitive advantage.

Table of Contents

Title Page………………………………………………………………………………………….1

Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………………2

Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………………….3

Introduction…….………………………………………………………………………………….4

Chapter

I What is Outsourcing.……………………………………………………………...4

II Outsourcing Issues………………...………………………………………………7

III Future of Outsourcing....…………………………………………………………11

Conclusion..…..………………………………………………………………………………….13

References………………………………………………………………………………………..15

Appendix A (Bibliography)……………………………………………………………………...17

Global Outsourcing of IT Functions

The...