Understanding the outsourcing learning curve: A longitudinal analysis of a large Australian company

Julie Fisher (), Rudy Hirschheim () and Robert Jacobs ()
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Julie Fisher: Monash University
Rudy Hirschheim: Louisiana State University
Robert Jacobs: Monash University

Information Systems Frontiers, 2008, vol. 10, issue 2, No 4, 165-178

Abstract: Abstract Outsourcing continues to capture the attention of researchers as more companies move to outsourcing models as part of their business practice. Two areas frequently researched and reported in the literature are the reasons why a company decides to outsource, and outsourcing success factors. This paper describes an in-depth, longitudinal case study that explores both the reasons why the company decided to outsource and factors that impact on success. The paper describes how Alpha, a very large Australian communications company, approached outsourcing and how its approach matured over a period of 9 years. The paper concludes that although a number of reasons are proposed for a company's decision to outsource, lowering costs was the predominant driver in this case. We also describe other factors identified as important for outsourcing success such as how contracts are implemented, the type of outsourcing partner arrangement, and outsourcing vendor capabilities.

Keywords: Outsourcing; IT services; Phases of outsourcing; Learning curve; Case study; Interpretative analysis; Longitudinal analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10796-008-9070-y

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