IT Governance or IT Outsourcing

Abstract

IT governance or IT outsourcing both have their own unique benefits but the decision to choose one over other is not always so clear. This chapter examines the impact of globalization of software development and localization of service delivery in the offshore software development and outsourcing services sector. A case study is used to illustrate the key ideas that helped contribute to a successful IT project that was outsourced by a US organization to a transnational IT outsourcing services provider based in India. The two key points illustrated by the case study discussed in this chapter are what are the issues facing a North American company that deals with an IT service supplier thousands of miles and many time zones away and what are the lessons learned from a successful outsourcing relationship.