Perception is reality. It is a bitter truth, but one that haunts IT professionals time and time again -- from the understanding of user requirements, to expectations management, to product selection and contract negotiation.

Disclaimer I am not a lawyer, and no part of this article should be interpreted as legal advice. Do not act or rely upon law-related information in this article without seeking the advice of an attorney.

Companies turn to outsourcing for many different reasons. Some companies want to pursue new opportunities, others seek to offload nonstrategic functions, and still others want to reduce and control costs. Yet despite these different motivating factors, there is a common thread underlying each of these decisions to outsource.

Companies turn to outsourcing for many different reasons. Some companies want to pursue new opportunities, others seek to offload nonstrategic functions, and still others want to reduce and control costs. Yet despite these different motivating factors, there is a common thread underlying each of these decisions to outsource.

There are many things that prompt companies to consider outsourcing. Some organizations want to focus on their core competencies and offload nonstrategic functions to the outsourcer. Others want to pursue a new opportunity, change direction, or correct problems in their IT organization. None of these companies, however, would be willing to consider outsourcing if it meant a deterioration in service.

There are many things that prompt companies to consider outsourcing. Some organizations want to focus on their core competencies and offload nonstrategic functions to the outsourcer. Others want to pursue a new opportunity, change direction, or correct problems in their IT organization. None of these companies, however, would be willing to consider outsourcing if it meant a deterioration in service.

The Internet and ever-increasing bandwidth have spawned a new method of delivering software functionality -- the application service provider (ASP) model. An ASP creatively combines aspects of software packages, outsourcing, and Internet delivery, allowing customers to receive all the benefits of using a software application without the associated burdens.

The Internet and ever-increasing bandwidth have spawned a new method of delivering software functionality -- the application service provider (ASP) model. An ASP creatively combines aspects of software packages, outsourcing, and Internet delivery, allowing customers to receive all the benefits of using a software application without the associated burdens.

Sole-source outsourcing relationships are dead. At least that's the feedback from Cutter Consortium's latest outsourcing survey in which 83% of respondents indicated that they are currently involved in multivendor engagements. Gone are the days when a single vendor provided everything necessary to address an organization's IT needs.

Sole-source outsourcing relationships are dead. At least that's the feedback from Cutter Consortium's latest outsourcing survey in which 83% of respondents indicated that they are currently involved in multivendor engagements. Gone are the days when a single vendor provided everything necessary to address an organization's IT needs.