Information Systems Offshoring: Differing Perspectives of the Value Statement

Abstract

Outsourcing is predicted to become a $220 billion industry by 2010 [19]; IT outsourcing represents 28% of the 2003 market [16] and there is no good reason to think it will decline. This trend impacts current employees and potential employees alike. However, there may be fundamental differences in how these two groups perceive the issues around outsourcing. A survey was created to help identify the differences in the perceived benefits between students and various trade groups with regard to the practice of Information Systems offshoring. The study starts by examining the idea that support for offshoring is caused by an overall value to the consumer, even if indirect. We then use the role of social responsibility in offshoring, to drive a survey of freshmen level business students, as well as information technology employees in the United States and abroad. The results show a difference between the two groups on half of the topics with the general finding that students are more acceptable of the practice of outsourcing.