With more companies looking to external IT service providers for expertise and management to continue to innovate and optimize, Stephanie Moore of CIO provides a list of 10 key questions to ask yourself whether or not your organization is ready for outsourcing:
- Project management track record. Determine if you are scoping and estimating projects out successfully.
- Project management expertise. This is a critical aspect when you add an external IT service to the mix.
- Central program management. PMOs ensure consistency and quality.
- Communication and collaboration tools. You need tools that support distributed projects. Manual will not work once an IT service provider is on boarded.
- Internal process consistency. Consistency will allow the IT service provider to understand your organization faster.
- Software development process maturity.
- Requirements definitions and management. A formal requirements definition and review is required.
- Managing to SLAs. If your organization uses internal SLAs already to manage the IT to business services than you will be much more prepared to set up SLAs with your vendor.
- User acceptance testing rigor. Having a formal sign-off process will reduce delays and cost overruns.
- Vendor management function. Today 47% of companies have formal vendor management groups.
You might be surprised by this list. Experts agree to have a successful outsourcing venture you must not only choose the right partner but also evaluate your organization’s processes and readiness.
