Dimensions of Offshore Outsourcing Business Models

Abstract

This paper discusses some key themes and issues in relation to offshore outsourcing. It provides an analysis of four example UK case studies of firm that have entered into offshore outsourcing deals. Each firm is distinguished by the different approach or business model adopted. These approaches highlight the heterogeneous nature of the offshore outsourcing phenomenon. A framework is then proposed based on the literature and the study which provides four important elements and related sub-factors of interest and importance. This framework is then used to analyse the cases highlighting some of the drivers and risk factors of the models, from the customer’s perspective.

Keywords:

• offshore outsourcing
• business models
• direct outsourcing
• joint venture
• subsidiary
• case study

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Naureen Khan

Naureen Khan is currently doing her PhD at Brunel University in Department of Information systems and computing. Prior to this she was employed as a research assistant on the BC-ASP project funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. She has also worked in the health sector with NOVARTIS as a market researcher at CIBA Vision Sector, in Bangladesh. She has presented her work at international conferences: Hawaii conference in system sciences, European conference in Information systems and the American conference on Information systems. Her doctoral work is on business value from offshore outsourcing business models

Guy Fitzgerald

Guy Fitzgerald is a Professor of Information Systems at Brunel University. Prior to this, he was the Cable and Wireless Professor of Business Information Systems at Birkbeck College, University of London. And before this he held positions at Templeton College, Oxford and Warwick University. He has also worked in the computer industry for many years with companies such as British Telecom, Mitsubishi and CACI, Inc. International, in a variety of roles, including those of programmer, systems analyst and consultant. His research interests are concerned with Information systems and Information management and he has published widely in these areas. In particular his research has been concerned with the effective development of information systems and methodologies. He is Editor of the Information Systems Journal from Blackwell Scientific and Editor of the Information Systems Series of texts from McGraw-Hill.