A transaction cost approach to outsourcing behavior: Some empirical evidence

Information systems outsourcing reasons in the largest Spanish firms

“…We found the handicap that field studies based on surveys on IS outsourcing do not proliferate, case studies being more common (Aubert, Rivard & Patry;Baldwing, Irani & Love, 2001;Huber, 1993;Kern & Willcocks, 2000;Lacity & Hirschheim, 1993a;1993b;Lacity & Willcocks, 1997;Lacity, Willcocks & Feeny, 1996;Loebbecke & Jelassi, 1999;McLellan, Marcolin & Beamish, 1995;Palvia, 1995;Willcocks & Choi, 1995;Willcocks, Fitzgerald & Lacity, 1996;Willcocks, Lacity & Kern, 1999). However, on the basis of literature on this matter (Arnett & Jones , 1994;Clark, Zmud & McCray, 1995;Collins & Millen, 1995;Corbett, 1994;Grover, Cheon & Teng, 1994) we prepared a questionnaire draft, which was later subjected to a pilot test and a pre-test.…”

“…What advantages does this way of managing IS have? The Transaction Costs Theory serves as a basis for the analysis of decisions related to IS outsourcing, which is why various authors have applied it to this end (Ang & Straub, 1998;Aubert, Rivard & Patry, 1996;Buck-Lew, 1992;Cheon, Grover & Teng, 1995;Jurison, 1995;Nam et al 1996). That theory, originally developed by Williamson (1975), explains the reasons due to which firms produce certain goods or services internally or acquire them outside the firm through a transaction in the market, considering whether transaction costs (of negotiating and establishing relationships with external providers) exceed or not production and coordination costs using the firm's own staff.…”

A Conjoint Approach to Understanding IT Application Services Outsourcing

“…Currie and Seltsikas (2001) view the changes occurring in three stages; facilities management, business-centric outsourcing, and industry-centric outsourcing. In an exhaustive review of the outsourcing literature, Dibbern et al (2004) cite well over 100 studies that have examined domestic outsourcing, with far less academic research focusing on ASPs (Currie and Seltsikas, 2001;Ekanayaka et al 2003), application development (Aubert, et al, 1996;Beath and Walker, 1998;Heiskanen, et al;Nelson, et al, 1996;Wang, et al, 1997;Whang, 1992;Grover, et al, 1994) or the determinants of offshore outsourcing (Rottman and Lacity 2004;Carmel and Agarwal 2002;Sahay et al 2003). Thus, there is a need to have a better understanding of offshore outsourcing relative to our understanding of domestic outsourcing and ASP provision.…”

Outsourcing Automatic Data Processing Requirements and Support

“…This is also stressed by Aubert, Rivard, and Patry (1996), who recommend that in order to achieve benefits from outsourcing it is important to have enforceable and indisputable measures defined in the contract, so that one can easily make enforcement and cancellation decisions. In order for these measures to be relevant and useful in monitoring the contractor's performance, two steps must first be taken before the contract is let: One must develop a baseline of the current function that can be used as both information for the contractor and as a gauge to measure improvement against, describing its:…”