Transparency: A Critical Success Factor for IT Outsourcing
OverviewCIOs, under constant pressure to do more with less, are considering IT outsourcing as a way to meet some of their challenges. IT outsourcing initiatives are often focused on specific objectives such application portfolio rationalization, legacy system modernization, and data center consolidation and virtualization. Whatever the actual project, the overall objectives are always strategic and similar: aligning IT with business needs and reducing the total cost of IT. For an IT outsourcing project to be successful, both the outsourcing provider and the enterprise need an accurate and mutual understanding of the true project scope and objectives. Often, this alignment is impaired by the lack of accurate information about the current IT environment and assets. Many organizations have little insight into exactly where and how assets are deployed, their alignment with corporate standards, and other vital information including the lifecycle stage of important assets and their degree of utilization.
