I've often recommended that companies outsource software development and maintenance tasks that are non-strategic.

I've often recommended that companies outsource software development and maintenance tasks that are non-strategic.

"Castles, gardens, gold, and jewels Contentment signify, for fools Like Princess Nell, but those Who cultivate their wit Like King Coyote and his crows

"Castles, gardens, gold, and jewels Contentment signify, for fools Like Princess Nell, but those Who cultivate their wit Like King Coyote and his crows

We all outsource; we do it everyday. The buying and selling of goods is the basic fabric of commerce. It becomes outsourcing when we use it to fulfill our business needs -- we just don't think of it as outsourcing. It is so basic to our way of business that we hardly think about the process, the risks, or any contractual provisions. Outsourcing is truly an arms-length business-to-business transaction.

We all outsource; we do it everyday. The buying and selling of goods is the basic fabric of commerce. It becomes outsourcing when we use it to fulfill our business needs -- we just don't think of it as outsourcing. It is so basic to our way of business that we hardly think about the process, the risks, or any contractual provisions. Outsourcing is truly an arms-length business-to-business transaction.

The key to a successful outsourcing project lies in the buyer's ability to negotiate an effective contract and manage a working relationship that will change and evolve over the life of the project. The goal of the accompanying Executive Report is to start you thinking about strategies you can employ in the negotiating process to ensure a successful working relationship with your outsourcing vendor.

The key to a successful outsourcing project lies in the buyer's ability to negotiate an effective contract and manage a working relationship that will change and evolve over the life of the project. The goal of the accompanying Executive Report is to start you thinking about strategies you can employ in the negotiating process to ensure a successful working relationship with your outsourcing vendor.

To effectively manage an outsourced software development effort, you must have a set of measures that can (1) accurately predict and monitor the cost of the software deliverable, and (2) measure the value of the service provided to the customer. The key to this is establishing an accurate cost-per-unit-of-work measure.

To effectively manage an outsourced software development effort, you must have a set of measures that can (1) accurately predict and monitor the cost of the software deliverable, and (2) measure the value of the service provided to the customer. The key to this is establishing an accurate cost-per-unit-of-work measure.

We can all recall situations where we've told ourselves, "I should have known better." In most cases, our mistakes probably didn't cost us much -- a few hours listening to a pitch about buying a time-share in Florida or getting a bunch of junk e-mails. When selecting a vendor for an IT outsourcing project, however, mistakes can have a great deal more impact.

We can all recall situations where we've told ourselves, "I should have known better." In most cases, our mistakes probably didn't cost us much -- a few hours listening to a pitch about buying a time-share in Florida or getting a bunch of junk e-mails. When selecting a vendor for an IT outsourcing project, however, mistakes can have a great deal more impact.

The Internet changes everything. Okay, now that we're through the obligatory opening for every article these days, let's focus on the key issue for business-IT alignment -- change is changing.

The Internet changes everything. Okay, now that we're through the obligatory opening for every article these days, let's focus on the key issue for business-IT alignment -- change is changing.

As we cast a glance at the hoards of Internet start-ups filled with 26-year-olds queuing at the doors of venture capital firms, we might wonder if past experience has any value in these crazy times,

As we cast a glance at the hoards of Internet start-ups filled with 26-year-olds queuing at the doors of venture capital firms, we might wonder if past experience has any value in these crazy times,

Supply chain management (SCM) is a hot topic.

Supply chain management (SCM) is a hot topic.

"Castles, gardens, gold, and jewels Contentment signify, for fools Like Princess Nell, but those Who cultivate their wit Like King Coyote and his crows

"Castles, gardens, gold, and jewels Contentment signify, for fools Like Princess Nell, but those Who cultivate their wit Like King Coyote and his crows

The role of metrics in driving business success has been discussed at length, but what happens when the company shifts into overdrive and begins moving at Internet speed?

The role of metrics in driving business success has been discussed at length, but what happens when the company shifts into overdrive and begins moving at Internet speed?

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