"There are three kinds of people: those who can count and those who can't." -- Anonymous

"There are three kinds of people: those who can count and those who can't." -- Anonymous

Success in an outsourcing engagement is determined by the ability to set performance expectations properly and to manage the engagement to meet those expectations. Misalignment of these expectations is perhaps the most common reason why outsourcing engagements falter. In some cases, the client is disappointed with performance even though the outsourcer has exceeded its performance commitments.

Success in an outsourcing engagement is determined by the ability to set performance expectations properly and to manage the engagement to meet those expectations. Misalignment of these expectations is perhaps the most common reason why outsourcing engagements falter. In some cases, the client is disappointed with performance even though the outsourcer has exceeded its performance commitments.

Preparing for an outsourcing engagement takes a great deal of time and effort, as well as a commitment to doing things right. These preparatory activities will culminate in a set of contracts and documents that memorialize the understanding of the parties and the terms of their agreement.

Preparing for an outsourcing engagement takes a great deal of time and effort, as well as a commitment to doing things right. These preparatory activities will culminate in a set of contracts and documents that memorialize the understanding of the parties and the terms of their agreement.

Outsourcing customers and providers usually enter into outsourcing relationships with noble intentions and high expectations. The CIO and other customer executives look forward to exemplary service, best-of-breed thinking, extraordinary responsiveness, and a vendor that shows both a partner-like caring about the customer's success and an intuitive understanding of the business.

Outsourcing customers and providers usually enter into outsourcing relationships with noble intentions and high expectations. The CIO and other customer executives look forward to exemplary service, best-of-breed thinking, extraordinary responsiveness, and a vendor that shows both a partner-like caring about the customer's success and an intuitive understanding of the business.

Whether new to outsourcing or well indoctrinated in working with IT vendors, you may find yourself in a situation where your outsourcing process itself -- planning for, procuring, and implementing vendor services -- needs help. A recent Cutter Consortium Outsourcing Survey indicates that more than one-third of outsourcing organizations surveyed use outside help to support their vendor engagements.

Whether new to outsourcing or well indoctrinated in working with IT vendors, you may find yourself in a situation where your outsourcing process itself -- planning for, procuring, and implementing vendor services -- needs help. A recent Cutter Consortium Outsourcing Survey indicates that more than one-third of outsourcing organizations surveyed use outside help to support their vendor engagements.

©2000 Symbian Ltd. All rights reserved.

©2000 Symbian Ltd. All rights reserved.

It is said that the dawn of the personal computer represented the first major computing revolution, and the appearance of the Web marked the second.

It is said that the dawn of the personal computer represented the first major computing revolution, and the appearance of the Web marked the second.

The increased interest in mini operating systems at Hewlett-Packard Laboratories (HPL) corresponds, not surprisingly, with the rise of the new enterprise Internet data center (IDC).

The increased interest in mini operating systems at Hewlett-Packard Laboratories (HPL) corresponds, not surprisingly, with the rise of the new enterprise Internet data center (IDC).

As embedded systems become ever more powerful and inexpensive, the range of applications for which they might be suited grows ever larger.

As embedded systems become ever more powerful and inexpensive, the range of applications for which they might be suited grows ever larger.

As we've noted elsewhere in this issue of the Cutter IT Journal, embedded systems and wireless information devices (WIDs) are likely to become the next major wave of technology.