Information systems outsourcing success factors: a review and some results

Abstract

Purpose – This paper aims to offer the results of a survey about information systems (IS) outsourcing. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology is a questionnaire survey of 357 IS managers in Spanish firms. Findings – IS outsourcing is a widespread activity that has been growing on a worldwide basis in recent years. The main outsourcing success factors for large Spanish firms are, in order of priority, the provider's understanding of clients' objectives, choosing the right provider, and the client's clear idea of what is sought through outsourcing. Originality/value – Identifies the most important outsourcing success factors from the client point of view and present the relationships they have with certain characteristics of the firm like, for instance, its size.