In this issue of CBR , we discuss what is often referred to as the "glue" that binds an outsourcing deal: relationship management. Sometimes compared to the dynamics associated with a marriage, the relationship between a supplier and a customer is dependent on good relationship management. You can make the right decision to outsource, you can find a provider with a good track record of delivery, and you can establish an arrangement that is economically favorable to both parties.

Model Driven Architecture (MDA) and its first cousin Model Driven Development continue to make news in the industry. People now use MDA in a variety of ways. At one end of the real-world usage spectrum, we see instances of the complete generation of application code from UML models for embedded systems; at the other, companies are creating enterprise computation-independent models (CIMs) to provide visibility into business processes.

Leadership is a necessary -- and critical -- quality in the IT domain as well as in other business arenas. IT people, however, tend to enter the field primarily as technologists and often attain leadership positions without recognizing the qualities that are essential to be a successful leader. In this issue of CBR , Cutter Consortium Senior Consultants David Caruso and Kerry Gentry address the meaning of leadership and how to identify and cultivate those IT professionals who possess leadership qualities.