An Overview of IT Outsourcing in Public-Sector Agencies

2008 ◽  
pp. 662-671
Author(s):  
Anne C. Rouse
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Third Party ◽  
It Outsourcing ◽  
Western World ◽  
It Services ◽  
The Core ◽  
Sector Decision

For the past 15 years, governments in the developed, Western world have been contracting out, or outsourcing, services as a key part of publicsector reforms. Outsourcing has been argued to lead to cost savings, improved discipline, better services, access to scarce skills, and the capacity for managers to focus more time on the core business of their organizations (Domberger, 1998). Government outsourcing initiatives have encompassed a range of services, but given the large sums of money invested in IT assets, the outsourcing of IT services (IT outsourcing, or ITO) has been a major initiative for many agencies. Lacity and Willcocks (1998, p. 3) defined ITO as “handing over to a third party [the] management of IS/IT assets, resources and/or activities for required results.” For public-sector outsourcing, this handover is usually made by way of a competitive tender. Case studies have reported ITO successes and failures (e.g., Currie & Willcocks, 1998; Rouse & Corbitt, 2003; Willcocks & Currie, 1997; Lacity and Willcocks, 2001; Willcocks & Kern, 1998), but much of the evidence presented to public-sector decision makers to justify this reform is anecdotal and unsystematic, and when investigated in depth, does not necessarily support widespread conclusions.

An Overview of IT Outsourcing in Public-Sector Agencies

2010 ◽  
pp. 276-285
Author(s):  
Anne Rouse
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Third Party ◽  
It Outsourcing ◽  
Western World ◽  
It Services ◽  
The Core ◽  
Sector Decision

For the past 15 years, governments in the developed, Western world have been contracting out, or outsourcing, services as a key part of publicsector reforms. Outsourcing has been argued to lead to cost savings, improved discipline, better services, access to scarce skills, and the capacity for managers to focus more time on the core business of their organizations (Domberger, 1998). Government outsourcing initiatives have encompassed a range of services, but given the large sums of money invested in IT assets, the outsourcing of IT services (IT outsourcing, or ITO) has been a major initiative for many agencies. Lacity and Willcocks (1998, p. 3) defined ITO as “handing over to a third party [the] management of IS/IT assets, resources and/or activities for required results.” For public-sector outsourcing, this handover is usually made by way of a competitive tender. Case studies have reported ITO successes and failures (e.g., Currie & Willcocks, 1998; Rouse & Corbitt, 2003; Willcocks & Currie, 1997; Lacity and Willcocks, 2001; Willcocks & Kern, 1998), but much of the evidence presented to public-sector decision makers to justify this reform is anecdotal and unsystematic, and when investigated in depth, does not necessarily support widespread conclusions.

Ontology Based RT-Delphi with Explanation Capabilities

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 57
Author(s):  
Ahmed Omran ◽  
Motaz Khorshid
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Knowledge Acquisition ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Policy Decision ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Domain Experts ◽  
The Core ◽  
Delphi Approach

<p>Real-Time (RT) Delphi approach is widely used method for knowledge acquisition process. The current RT-Delphi approach ignores considering the unifying domain concepts and their attributes. This limitation can provide the contradiction of the domain experts' judgments and increasing misunderstandings when talking about specific topics. In addition, the current RT-Delphi ignores the explanation capabilities for consensus results, which it is vital for policy/decision makers to be more confidence. The core of this research is to develop ontology-based RT-Delphi with explanation capabilities. We applied the developed approach in to two crucial important case studies in Egypt, which are food security and water security.</p>

The Governance Implications When it is Outsourced

2010 ◽  
pp. 2335-2346
Author(s):  
Anne C. Rouse
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
It Governance ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
It Outsourcing ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
It Services ◽  
Enterprise Software ◽  
Good Corporate Governance ◽  
It Resources

This chapter considers the governance issues raised by the increasing use of external parties to supply IT resources (including packaged enterprise software). The chapter briefly reviews existing formal governance frameworks and their treatment of IT outsourcing, then introduces an analytical model for considering outsourcing benefits and risks. The chapter then goes on to highlight some strategic IT governance issues that become critical once a firm outsources a significant proportion of its IT services. The aim of the chapter is to alert decision makers to the fact that outsourcing IT incorporates residual risks even when widely recommended operational controls are implemented. It concludes that effective control processes are necessary, but not sufficient for good corporate governance and suggests that those responsible for corporate governance ensure that both operational and strategic governance issues are considered when IT is substantially outsourced.

Conclusion

2021 ◽  
pp. 253-266
Author(s):  
Daniel Roth
Keyword(s):  
Social Status ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Common Trends ◽  
The Third ◽  
The Core ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Third Party

The final chapter serves as conclusion to the book and examines the core conceptual questions through which the various case studies of third-party peacemakers were presented through the book, as well as identifying both common trends and variations between them. The core conceptual questions include: What was the social status of the third-party peacemakers and connection to the sides in conflict? Who took the initiative to intervene? Did the peacemakers bring the sides to a compromise agreement? Did they reconcile the conflict sides, and if so, how? The chapter concludes with a discussion on the scope of third-party peacemaking in Judaism, and the implications for today.

scholarly journals Institutional change of cloud ERP implementation in the public sector

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nizar Mohammad Alsharari
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Enterprise Resource Planning ◽  
Resource Planning ◽  
Transformation Process ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Erp Implementation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Erp System ◽  
The Public

Purpose This study aims to explain the transformation process from using regular enterprise resource planning (ERP) system into implementing Cloud ERP system in the UAE public sector. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a qualitative case study and analyzes the primary evidences from in-depth interviews with the case organization’s personnel. It conducts a thematic analysis of the interviews’ findings. Furthermore, the study uses secondary and tertiary resources from published sources comprising the case organization’s website and previous studies. Findings The findings demonstrated that the transformation process to Cloud ERP could result in different practical benefits in an organization’s controlling system, cost reduction and profitability. Conversely, results revealed that the effectiveness of implementing cloud ERP is dependable on the provider’s professionalism; hence resulting in issues related to minimized organizational independence. In addition, the paper’s findings provide evidenced clarifications about the controversial misconceptions of Cloud ERP’s privacy issues. Research limitations/implications The paper is exposed to the regular case studies limitations, as the study is a qualitative research studying one case company. Thus, the study findings should be strengthened by future quantitative researches on more companies with implying more statistical analysis. Practical implications The paper has important implications for practitioners and decision-makers, as it presents significant and reality-based information about Cloud ERP implementation’s benefits and drawbacks. It thus enhances decision-makers’ ability to make an appropriate and suitable decision about adopting the Cloud ERP in the public sector. Originality/value As Cloud ERP is still emerging, this study is one of the very few case studies that discuss and present some experienced benefits and issues related to Cloud ERP implementation in UAE Government. This study also uses transformation theory to analyze the data.

scholarly journals Blockchain en el sector público, una perspectiva internacional

2019 ◽  
pp. 16-34
Author(s):  
Magdalena CORDERO VALDAVIDA
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Digital Transformation ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Use Case ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Public ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
European Court ◽  
Sector Decision ◽  
Internet Revolution

Laburpena: Eraldaketa digitalak, besteren artean Interneten iraultzarekin sustatu denak, arriskuarekin zerikusia duten automatizazio- eta efizientzia-aukera berriak eskaintzen ditu; segurtasunaren eta elkarreragingarritasunaren ingurukoak, adibidez. Bloke-katearen (blockchain) teknologia disruptiboa eta berritzailea da, eta sektore publikoko arduradunen arreta atzeman du, zerbitzu berriak sortzeko eta daudenak hobetzen laguntzeko gaitasuna baitu, gardentasuna areagotzearekin eta herritarren konfiantzari eustearekin bat. Artikulu honetan, teknologia horren sarrera egiten da, teknologia horrek sektore publikoan dituen ezarpenak azaltzen dira, Europar Batasunaren ekimenak kontatzen dira, eta Europako Kontuen Auzitegiaren adibide zehatz bat aurkezten da. Resumen: La transformación digital, impulsada entre otras cosas por la revolución de internet, ofrece nuevas oportunidades de automatización y eficiencia que van unidas a riesgos, como la seguridad, o la interoperabilidad. La tecnología de cadena de bloques (blockchain), de naturaleza disruptiva e innovadora, ha captado la atención de los responsables del sector público por su capacidad de generar nuevos servicios, y de contribuir a mejorar los existentes, aumentando la transparencia y manteniendo la confianza de los ciudadanos. Este artículo introduce la tecnología, describe sus aplicaciones en el sector público, relata las iniciativas de la Unión Europea y presenta un ejemplo concreto del Tribunal de Cuentas Europeo. Abstract: The digital transformation, driven by, amongst other things, the Internet revolution, offers new opportunities for automation and efficiency that go together with risks such as security and interoperability. The disruptive and innovative nature of Blockchain technology has not been overlooked by the public sector decision-makers for its ability to generate new services and to contribute to improving existing ones, increasing security, transparency and maintaining the confidence of citizens. This article introduces the technology, describes its applications in the public sector, explains the initiatives at the European Union level and presents a use case of the European Court of Auditors.

The Benefits of Cloud Computing

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-73
Author(s):  
Georgios Chatzithanasis ◽  
Christos Michalakelis
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Computing ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Software Maintenance ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Cloud Services ◽  
Third Party ◽  
It Infrastructure ◽  
Medium Enterprises

Cloud computing is gaining ground in the global ICT market and day by day a significant number of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are adopting cloud services with sole purpose to improve their business environment and become more efficient, competitive and productive. Migrating a business IT infrastructure to the cloud offers reduction on server and storage costs, software maintenance expenditures, network and energy expenses as well as costs associated with disaster recovery. Since the cloud computing model works on a “pay-as-you-go” basis, it provides the option to pay for what is used. Thus, its adoption can offer slow start-up or expansion costs, creating an environment for rapid innovation and development. Into that context, this article presents the Greek side of cloud evolution through two representative case studies, the migration of an IT system of a Greek industry, from an in-house data center to Google Cloud and a study of the “in-house” IT infrastructure of the National Confederation of Hellenic Commerce. Findings from the Greek industry, indicate that the cloud proposal could cost 50%, or 24% less per month (depending on the solution). As far as the National Confederation of Hellenic Commerce is concerned, the article proposes only a new measure of security using Cloud services for reasons that will be discussed at the case study. Both case studies take into account the present costs of the IT system (energy consumption, third party contracts and maintenance) and propose alternatives through cloud migration. Results indicate that cloud computing offers benefits and significant cost savings for both studied cases, showing promising ways for the successful adoption of the cloud.

Contracting Out Information Technology in Public Sector Contexts: Research and Critique

1997 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 34-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie R Willcocks ◽  
Wendy L. Currie
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
It Outsourcing ◽  
Case Histories ◽  
The Public ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Different Parts

AbstractThe growing trend towards IT outsourcing within the United Kingdom (UK) public sector is analysed. Factors influencing the degree of success experienced in a range of IT outsourcing deals are detailed, and then used as a framework for analysing and discussing two case histories — of selective and large-scale IT outsourcing — drawn from different parts of the public sector. Both examples demonstrate how distinctive public sector contexts influence the direction and degree of outsourcing. At the same time, they highlight a range of managerial and organisational issues raised by moves towards contractual, core competence forms of organising. Selective outsourcing is revealed as effective provided key decisions and actions are taken. The large-scale outsourcing case raises a number of critical issues not just for how it can be conducted in public sector contexts, but also about the efficacy of such arrangements in terms of cost savings, possible over-dependence on a few suppliers, and ability to respond flexibly to changing political requirements and legislation.

Contracting Out Information Technology in Public Sector Contexts: Research and Critique

1997 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 34-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie R Willcocks ◽  
Wendy L. Currie
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
It Outsourcing ◽  
Case Histories ◽  
The Public ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Different Parts

AbstractThe growing trend towards IT outsourcing within the United Kingdom (UK) public sector is analysed. Factors influencing the degree of success experienced in a range of IT outsourcing deals are detailed, and then used as a framework for analysing and discussing two case histories — of selective and large-scale IT outsourcing — drawn from different parts of the public sector. Both examples demonstrate how distinctive public sector contexts influence the direction and degree of outsourcing. At the same time, they highlight a range of managerial and organisational issues raised by moves towards contractual, core competence forms of organising. Selective outsourcing is revealed as effective provided key decisions and actions are taken. The large-scale outsourcing case raises a number of critical issues not just for how it can be conducted in public sector contexts, but also about the efficacy of such arrangements in terms of cost savings, possible over-dependence on a few suppliers, and ability to respond flexibly to changing political requirements and legislation.

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