Information Technology Outsourcing Chain: Literature Review and Implications for Development of Distributed Coordination

Malgorzata Pankowska

doi:10.3390/su11051460

Abstract

The paper aims to analyse how the management science literature explains sustainable coordination and management of Information Technology (IT) outsourcing chains. The IT outsourcing theories,—that is, transaction cost theory, theory of agency, resource based view, activity based theory, contractual theory, partnership and alliance theory and stakeholder theory—are applied as a background to the analysis. A systematic literature review reveals that IT outsourcing is developed in collaborative networks and chains. There are some mechanisms identified in the literature for outsourcing chains’ management, interchain sustainability, coordination and interchain activities’ cohesion. The complexity of outsourcing relationships presented among outsourcers and outsourcees stimulate looking for new business models. Furthermore, outsourcing chains research would benefit from considering strategy-based theoretical discussions, relationship modelling and project management. The literature survey aims to present outsourcing chains in different aspects, that is, dynamics and agility, communication in chains, compensation and compliance, contracting, stakeholders, decision making models, governance problems, integration, performance measurement, project management and strategy development. This paper intends to emphasize that interchain coordination can be improved by enterprise architecture modelling as well as by the application of blockchain economy.

Highlights

Literature reviews are presented at the beginning of empirical research and to support a practical development of any solution
In this paper, it would be necessary to start with the presentation of practical problems as well as the theoretical background of the discussed concepts, for example, multisourcing, outsourcing chain, vertical outsourcing or collaborative networks
Management science systematic literature review is to focus on evidence-based practices to develop competencies for support of management of relations among outsourcers and outsourcees in supply chains, assuming that sometimes outsourcer can be an outsourcee, as they have a net of subcontractors, who have their own subcontractors

Summary

Introduction

Literature reviews are presented at the beginning of empirical research and to support a practical development of any solution. In conference or journals papers, the main purpose is to build a context for the further research problem definition. In this paper, it would be necessary to start with the presentation of practical problems as well as the theoretical background of the discussed concepts, for example, multisourcing, outsourcing chain, vertical outsourcing or collaborative networks. Management science systematic literature review is to focus on evidence-based practices to develop competencies for support of management of relations among outsourcers and outsourcees in supply chains, assuming that sometimes outsourcer can be an outsourcee, as they have a net of subcontractors, who have their own subcontractors.

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Conclusion