Leimeister IT Outsourcing Governance

Client Types and Their Management Strategies
2010
ISBN: 978-3-8349-6303-1
Verlag: Betriebswirtschaftlicher Verlag Gabler
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: 1 - PDF Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 387 Seiten, eBook

Reihe: Informationsmanagement und Computer Aided Team

Stefanie Leimeister examines different types of IT outsourcing relationships and their characteristics depending on the outsourcing clients' underlying expectations. The author derives actionable advice for applicable strategies and an effective allocation of resources for an outsourcing venture.



Dr. Stefanie Leimeister completed her doctoral thesis under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Helmut Krcmar at the Chair of Information Systems at Technische Universität München (TUM) and currently works as a research division manager at fortiss - the TUM research institute for software intensive systems.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Leimeister, Stefanie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Foreword;6
2;Acknowledgements;7
3;Abstract;8
4;Table of Contents;10
5;List of Figures;15
6;List of Tables;19
7;List of Abbreviations;22
8;1 Introduction;24
8.1;1.1 Problem Statement and Motivation for this Research;24
8.2;1.2 Research Objective and Research Questions;26
8.3;1.3 Outline and Structure of the Thesis;29
9;2 Epistemological Foundation and Research Methodology;31
9.1;2.1 Philosophical Perspectives and Research Epistemology;31
9.1.1;2.1.1 Positivist Research;31
9.1.2;2.1.2 Interpretive Research;33
9.1.3;2.1.3 Critical Research;33
9.2;2.2 Research Design and Methods: Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research;33
9.3;2.3 Summary of Epistemological Foundations of this Thesis;35
10;3 Theoretical Background on Outsourcing;36
10.1;3.1 Definition and Background of Information Systems Outsourcing;36
10.1.1;3.1.1 Specific Characteristics of Information Systems Outsourcing;37
10.1.2;3.1.2 IS Outsourcing Definitions;39
10.2;3.2 Theoretical Foundation: Related Theories;42
10.2.1;3.2.1 Transaction Cost Economics;43
10.2.2;3.2.2 Exchange Theories: Social Exchange and Relational Exchange Theory;45
10.2.2.1;3.2.2.1 Social Exchange Theory;45
10.2.2.2;3.2.2.2 Relational Exchange Theory;46
10.2.3;3.2.3 Psychological Contract Theory;47
10.2.4;3.2.4 Expectation Confirmation Theory;48
10.2.5;3.2.5 Theories of Power: Power-Political, Power Dependence, Power Conflict;49
10.2.6;3.2.6 Summary of Theories for IS Outsourcing Relationships;51
10.3;3.3 The Multi-Dimensionality of Outsourcing IS Functions;52
10.3.1;3.3.1 Outsourcing Functions and the IT Service Lifecycle;52
10.3.2;3.3.2 Forms of Outsourcing Arrangements;54
10.4;3.4 Outsourcing Determinants and Expectations: Advantages and Disadvantages;60
10.5;3.5 Prior Research on IS Outsourcing Relationships: State of the Art;66
10.5.1;3.5.1 Evolution of IS Outsourcing Research towards a Relationship Focus;66
10.5.2;3.5.2 The Relationship Perspective in IS Outsourcing;67
10.5.3;3.5.3 Approaches for Classifying IS Outsourcing Relationships;69
10.6;3.6 Constitutive Factors of an IS Outsourcing Relationship;70
10.6.1;3.6.1 Strategic Intent and Contextual Factors;70
10.6.2;3.6.2 Relationship Architecture;71
10.6.3;3.6.3 Governance and Monitoring Mechanisms;72
10.6.3.1;3.6.3.1 Formal Contractual Governance;75
10.6.3.2;3.6.3.2 Informal Relational Governance;76
10.6.3.3;3.6.3.3 The Interplay of Formal Contractual and Informal Relational Governance;77
10.6.3.4;3.6.3.4 Governance via Management Processes;78
10.6.3.5;3.6.3.5 Governance via Organizational Structures;79
10.6.3.6;3.6.3.6 Governance via Experience and Risk-Reward Incentive Mechanisms;80
10.6.4;3.6.4 Relational and Behavioral Interactions of the Outsourcing Parties;82
10.6.5;3.6.5 Success of IS Outsourcing;87
10.7;3.7 Shortcomings of the Current Research / Research Gap on Outsourcing Relationships and their Governance;91
10.8;3.8 Framework for Classifying Outsourcing Relationships;92
10.8.1;3.8.1 Methodological Approach to the Conceptualization of a Framework on Outsourcing Relationships;93
10.8.2;3.8.2 Categories of the Framework;94
10.8.3;3.8.3 Completeness vs. Parsimony of the Building Blocks;94
10.8.4;3.8.4 Interdependencies among the Variables;95
10.8.5;3.8.5 Conceptual Framework for Types in IS Outsourcing Relationships;96
10.9;3.9 Summary of Outsourcing Foundations;100
11;4 Theoretical and Methodological Foundations for Classifying Data;102
11.1;4.1 Theoretical Foundations of Classification and Configuration;102
11.1.1;4.1.1 Definition of Classification Terms: Classification, Configuration, Type;102
11.1.2;4.1.2 Characteristics of Configurations or Types;103
11.1.3;4.1.3 Typologies vs. Taxonomies;104
11.2;4.2 Grouping Techniques;107
11.2.1;4.2.1 Cluster Analysis;107
11.2.1.1;4.2.1.1 Definition of Cluster Analysis;107
11.2.1.2;4.2.1.2 General Procedure of Cluster Analysis;108
11.2.1.3;4.2.1.3 Different Clustering Techniques and Algorithms;109
11.2.1.4;4.2.1.4 Clustering Steps;111
11.2.1.5;4.2.1.5 Strengths and Pitfalls of Cluster Analysis;119
11.2.2;4.2.2 Discriminant Analysis;120
11.2.3;4.2.3 Factor Analysis;122
11.2.3.1;4.2.3.1 General Considerations and Distinctions in Factor Analysis: Exploratory vs. Confirmatory, R vs. Q Analysis;122
11.2.3.2;4.2.3.2 Design and Process of a Factor Analysis;123
11.3;4.3 Summary of the Methodological Foundations for Classifying Outsourcing Clients;129
12;5 Empirical Evidence of Outsourcing Relationship Types;131
12.1;5.1 Qualitative Pre-Study: First Evidence of Different IS Outsourcing Relationships;133
12.1.1;5.1.1 Data Collection;133
12.1.2;5.1.2 Results;136
12.1.2.1;5.1.2.1 Strategic Intent, Expectations, and Context;137
12.1.2.2;5.1.2.2 Relationship Architecture;137
12.1.2.3;5.1.2.3 Governance and Monitoring;137
12.1.2.4;5.1.2.4 Interaction;138
12.1.3;5.1.3 Types of IS Outsourcing Relationships;138
12.2;5.2 Research Design of the Quantitative Study;142
12.3;5.3 Data Collection and Demographic Results;144
12.4;5.4 Statistical Results: Data Analysis;146
12.4.1;5.4.1 Diagnostic Pre-Analysis of Results: Missing Values and Distribution of Data;146
12.4.1.1;5.4.1.1 Diagnostics: Analyzing the Extent and Impact of Missing Values;147
12.4.1.2;5.4.1.2 Normal Distribution of the Data;151
12.4.2;5.4.2 Factor Analysis: Customer Expectations towards IS Outsourcing;152
12.4.2.1;5.4.2.1 Initial Factor Analysis with All Outsourcing Motives;153
12.4.2.2;5.4.2.2 Final Improved Factor Solution;155
12.4.2.3;5.4.2.3 Reliability Analysis of the Final Factor Solution;160
12.4.2.4;5.4.2.4 Interpretation of Factors;161
12.4.3;5.4.3 Cluster Analysis: Finding Configurations of Clients with Similar Outsourcing Expectations;162
12.4.3.1;5.4.3.1 Selecting and Preparing the Input Variables for the Cluster Analysis;163
12.4.3.2;5.4.3.2 Identifying Outliers in the Data Set;163
12.4.3.3;5.4.3.3 Identifying the Number of Clusters and the Cluster Centroids;164
12.4.3.4;5.4.3.4 Optimizing the Cluster Solution with k-Means;166
12.4.3.5;5.4.3.5 Estimating and Validating the Cluster Solution with Discriminant Analysis;167
12.5;5.5 Interpretation of Statistical Analysis: Configurations of Different Outsourcing Client Groups;168
12.5.1;5.5.1 Constitutive Elements of the Client Configurations: Major Outsourcing Expecta-tions and Strategic Intents;169
12.5.2;5.5.2 Context Factors;176
12.5.2.1;5.5.2.1 Basic Company Characteristics;176
12.5.2.2;5.5.2.2 Role and Impact of IT for the Company;181
12.5.3;5.5.3 Relational Architecture of the Outsourcing Ventures;182
12.5.3.1;5.5.3.1 Experience with Outsourcing;182
12.5.3.2;5.5.3.2 Outsourcing Objects and Degree of Outsourced Functions;183
12.5.3.3;5.5.3.3 Number of Involved Vendors: Single vs. Multi-Vendor Outsourcing;185
12.5.3.4;5.5.3.4 Outsourcing Degree: Selective vs. Total Outsourcing;186
12.5.3.5;5.5.3.5 Length and Duration of Outsourcing Contracts;187
12.5.3.6;5.5.3.6 Pricing Arrangements for Outsourced Services;188
12.5.3.7;5.5.3.7 Outsourcing Alliances;189
12.5.3.8;5.5.3.8 Dependency on the Service Provider and Switching Costs;190
12.5.3.9;5.5.3.9 Goal Alignment between Outsourcing Parties;191
12.5.4;5.5.4 Governance Approaches among the Different Client Groups;194
12.5.4.1;5.5.4.1 Outsourcing Governance: Role of the Contract;194
12.5.4.2;5.5.4.2 Outsourcing Governance: Role of Processes;196
12.5.4.3;5.5.4.3 Outsourcing Governance: Role of Structures and Structural Liaison Devices;199
12.5.4.4;5.5.4.4 Outsourcing Governance: Informal Relationship;201
12.5.4.5;5.5.4.5 The Role of Staff Experience, Degrees of Freedom for the Vendor, and Risk-Reward Mechanisms as Governance Mechanisms;204
12.5.5;5.5.5 Interactions: Role of Specific Relationship Factors;208
12.5.5.1;5.5.5.1 Communication;209
12.5.5.2;5.5.5.2 Conflict Resolution and Consensus;210
12.5.5.3;5.5.5.3 Cooperation and Coordination;212
12.5.5.4;5.5.5.4 Commitment and Loyalty;214
12.5.5.5;5.5.5.5 Cultural Similarity;215
12.5.5.6;5.5.5.6 Trust;216
12.5.5.7;5.5.5.7 Vendor Flexibility;218
12.5.5.8;5.5.5.8 Vendor Proactivity;219
12.5.6;5.5.6 Outsourcing Success: Perceived Service Quality and Satisfaction;222
12.6;5.6 Summary and Consolidated Description of the Four Client Configurations;225
13;6 Governance of IS Outsourcing Relationship Types;235
13.1;6.1 Research Design: Governance Model and Construct Development;235
13.2;6.2 Research Approach and Validation;238
13.3;6.3 Model Validation and Results;239
13.3.1;6.3.1 Formative Measurement Model;239
13.3.2;6.3.2 Reflective Measurement Model;241
13.3.3;6.3.3 Structural Model;246
13.3.4;6.3.4 Group Analysis: The Impact of Different Governance Mechanisms among the Four Client Groups;250
13.3.5;6.3.5 Mediating Effects in the Model;251
13.4;6.4 Assessment of Common Method Bias;253
13.5;6.5 Discussion and Interpretation of Results;256
14;7 Conclusion and Outlook on Future Research;263
14.1;7.1 Results and Contributions to Theory;264
14.2;7.2 Results and Contributions to Practice;266
14.3;7.3 Main Research Limitations;267
14.4;7.4 Outlook on Future Research;268
15;References;269
16;Appendix;312

Epistemological Foundation and Research Methodology.- Theoretical Background on Outsourcing.- Theoretical and Methodological Foundations for Classifying Data.- Empirical Evidence of Outsourcing Relationship Types.- Governance of IS Outsourcing Relationship Types.- Conclusion and Outlook on Future Research.

Über Autor(innen)

Dr. Stefanie Leimeister completed her doctoral thesis under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Helmut Krcmar at the Chair of Information Systems at Technische Universität München (TUM) and currently works as a research division manager at fortiss – the TUM research institute for software intensive systems.