Assessing Organizational Adoption of Information Systems Outsourcing

Abstract

The information systems outsourcing (ISO) field continues to grow, as organizations consistently seek improvements in IT activities. The global scope of outsourcing participation and growth leads to gaps of knowledge related to the contextual factors that influence ISO adoption. Using the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework, this study identifies and contextualizes the determinants of ISO adoption. Data collected from 261 firms suggest that relative advantage, firm size, top management support, and competitive pressure are the main determinants of ISO. This study highlights the importance of assessing ISO using the TOE theoretical lens, and offers replication of prior results, the lack of which is a growing concern in social science research.

Keywords:

• diffusion of innovations
• information systems outsourcing
• IT adoption
• technology-organization-environment

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ricardo Martins

Ricardo Martins is a PhD student at the NOVA Information Management School in Portugal. His research interests include information systems outsourcing and technological innovation. He is a manager in the information systems outsourcing business for the human resources and financial sectors. He has more than 10 years of experience in the implementation of new outsourcing projects for international companies.

Tiago Oliveira

Tiago Oliveira is an assistant professor at the NOVA Information Management School and Coordinator of its degree program in Information Management. He holds a PhD from the Universidade Nova de Lisboa in Information Management. His research interests include technology adoption, the digital divide, and privacy. Professor Oliveira has published papers in several academic journals, including the Decision Support Systems, Information Systems Frontiers, Information & Management, Computers in Human Behavior, Journal of Global Information Management, International Journal of Information Management, Industrial Management & Data Systems, and the International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, among others.

Manoj Abraham Thomas

Manoj Abraham Thomas is an assistant professor and the Director of Technology for the Department of Information Systems in Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Business. He conducts research in diverse settings involving uncertain environments, nontraditional users, and unconventional application of technological solutions. Professor Thomas has been involved in ICT research in Brazil, Botswana, India, Haiti, Portugal, and the United States. His research has been published and presented internationally, appearing in such journals as Communications of the ACM, Information Systems Journal, Decision Support Systems, The Computer Journal, Health Policy and Technology, and Information & Management. He rides and works on motorcycles when he wants to get away from the digital realm.