Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Contractual Specification of Communication Tools in Outsourced ISD Projects

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Information Systems: Development, Research, Applications, Education (SIGSAND/PLAIS 2016)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing ((LNBIP,volume 264))

Included in the following conference series:

  • 822 Accesses

Abstract

Technical and organizational complexity of outsourced information systems development (ISD) projects calls for increased attention to communication, governance and control. Contract management and client-vendor relationships are both well studied but rarely analyzed together. Earlier studies suggest combining formal (i.e., agreed upon upfront and contractually specified) and informal (i.e., voluntary and emerging during the project) communication mechanisms for best results.

This study investigates “formalization” of communication by comparing the usefulness of communication tools specified in outsourcing contracts and tools selected by other means. Using survey responses from 389 IT project managers, we analyze communication mechanisms’ effectiveness across four categories of contract provisions, and compare the perceptions of project participants regarding contractually specified vs. emergent communication tools.

Our results confirm that specifying communication tools in the outsourcing contract for complex knowledge intensive projects supports the main contract provisions, and, in turn, leads to better project outcomes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Adler, P., Chen, C.: Combining creativity and control: understanding individual motivation in large-scale collaborative creativity. Account. Organ. Soc. 36(2), 63–85 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Chen, Y., Bharadwaj, A.: An empirical analysis of contract structures in IT outsourcing. Inf. Syst. Res. 20(4), 484–506 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Choudhury, V., Sabherwal, R.: Portfolios of control in outsourced software development projects. Inf. Syst. Res. 14(3), 291–314 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Clegg, S., Kornberger, M., Rhodes, C.: Noise, parasites and translation: theory and practice in management consulting. Manag. Learn. 35(1), 31 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Cram, A.: Success factors for information systems outsourcing: a meta-analysis. In: Proceedings of the 15th Americas Conference on Information Systems, p. 554, San Francisco, CA (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Gantman, S., Fedorowicz, J.: Communication and control in outsourced IS development projects: mapping to COBIT domains. Int. J. Account. Inf. Syst. 21, 63–83 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Gopal, A., Gosain, S.: The role of organizational controls and boundary spanning in software development outsourcing: implications for project performance. Inf. Syst. Res. 21(4), 960–982 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Hätönen, J., Eriksson, T.: 30+ years of research and practice of outsourcing–exploring the past and anticipating the future. J. Int. Manag. 15(2), 142–155 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Kappelman, L., McKeeman, R., Zhang, L.: Early warning signs of IT project failure: the dominant dozen. Inf. Syst. Manag. 23(4), 31–36 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Kim, S., Chung, Y.: Critical success factors for IS outsourcing implementation from an interorganizational relationship perspective. J. Comput. Inf. Syst. 43(4), 81–90 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Kirsch, L.: Portfolios of control modes and IS project management. Inf. Syst. Res. 8(3), 215 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Lacity, M., Khan, S., Willcocks, L.: A review of the IT outsourcing literature: insights for practice. J. Strateg. Inf. Syst. 18(3), 130–146 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Levina, N., Ross, J.: From the Vendor’s perspective: exploring the value proposition in IT outsourcing. MIS Q. 27(3), 331–364 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Levina, N., Vaast, E.: The emergence of boundary spanning competence in practice: implications for implementation and use of information systems. MIS Q. 29(2), 335–363 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Lim, W., Sia, S., Yeow, A.: Managing risks in a failing IT project: a social constructionist view. J. Assoc. Inf. Syst. 12(6), 2 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Mastrogiacomo, S., Missonier, S., Bonazzi, R.: Talk before it’s too late: reconsidering the role of conversation in information systems project management. J. Manag. Inf. Syst. 31(1), 47–78 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Ngwenyama, O., Sullivan, W.E.: Outsourcing contracts as instruments of risk management. J. Enterp. Inf. Manag. 20(6), 615 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Poppo, L., Zenger, T.: Do formal contracts and relational governance function as substitutes or complements? Strateg. Manag. J. 23(8), 707–725 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Willis, G.: Cognitive Interviewing: A Tool for Improving Questionnaire Design. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks (2005)

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Providence College, Providence, RI, USA

    Sonia Gantman

  2. Bentley University, Waltham, MA, USA

    Jane Fedorowicz

Authors
  1. Sonia Gantman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jane Fedorowicz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sonia Gantman .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Business Informatics, University of Gdansk Department of Business Informatics, Sopot, Poland

    Stanislaw Wrycza

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing AG

About this paper

Cite this paper

Gantman, S., Fedorowicz, J. (2016). Contractual Specification of Communication Tools in Outsourced ISD Projects. In: Wrycza, S. (eds) Information Systems: Development, Research, Applications, Education. SIGSAND/PLAIS 2016. Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing, vol 264. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46642-2_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation