The Relation between Outsourcing and the Return from Corporate IT Spending: Perceptions from Practitioners

Information technology may be viewed as a strategic asset or as a utility. The view a company holds not only influences the return it expects to receive from information technology investments, but also its decisions regarding outsourcing. This paper reports research conducted to examine the association between these issues from the viewpoints of experienced executives, managers, and consultants in comparison with those of veteran information technology professionals. The findings show that results expected from outsourcing are changing. Moreover, understanding the areas where managers and IT professionals agree and where they differ provides valuable insights into strategies for gaining adequate returns on IT spending.