Outsourcing to rise, but deals to shrink

Outsourcing is set to continue to grow worldwide during the next year, but the scope and length of many agreements will be reduced, according to a new report.

The research, by analyst firm Meta Group, predicts that 80 percent of organizations will outsource at least one information technology function by 2005.

		Special report Offshoring: The reality behind the politics CNET News.com looks hard at the problem, solutions.

But the Outsourcing Pricing Guide report, released last week, also warns that 70 percent of that group will drive a harder bargain when they renew those outsourcing deals, cutting both the scope and duration of the contract.

The report also warns that companies are risking their outlay on outsourcing deals unless they pay more attention to factors during the initial stages of an agreement. The authors advise that companies enter an outsourcing agreement with the correct expectations and negotiate contracts with service levels that align with their primary objectives and that have equitable pricing.

Dane Anderson, a senior research analyst at Meta Group, said in the report: "Although outsourcing is clearly a strategic decision, the tactical and operational implementation of an outsourcing agreement often neglects many of the fundamental elements required for success."

Andy McCue of Silicon.com reported from London.

[waynehapp]

Strategic?

If the American economy is consumer driven and you outsource the people with the dissposable income to reduce costs. How it that strategic?

Is it not a death spiral to the poorhouse for everyone involved?

Fire and outsource to save money.
Outsourced people have no disposal income.
SUV's go unsold. HDTV's not bought.
Repeat until again and again until communism seems like a good idea again.

[waynehapp]

Outsource the writer.

Just occured to me. If we want people to write junk there's no reason to pay a dude in London to do it when we can outsource him for a year at the same cost of his lunch.

[David Arbogast]

Here we go again.

Blah, blah, blah, blah.
Its a good thing the electronics that were invented in America were outsourced to other countries to build... or you wouldn't even be able to afford the computer you use to write your messages.

I wonder how many of the people who think that software should be FREE also think that outsourcing is a bad idea. Either way, you could argue fewer jobs and money in America.... Except with outsourcing, at least people are still being paid to work and businesses can remain profitable.