IT outsourcing in the public sector: a conceptual model

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to propose a theoretical model explaining information technology outsourcing performance in the public sector as well as a set of empirically testable propositions to improve the understanding of key determinants of success. Design/methodology/approach – Based on Fountain ' s technology enactment framework, the authors integrated inter-organizational factors, such as trust, knowledge sharing, and quality of outsourcing interfaces, in the model and added organizational culture alignment between service providers and public administration to enhance Fountain ' s original framework. Findings – The authors proposed 17 empirically testable propositions to establish the relationships between key variables in IT outsourcing projects in the public sector. Research limitations/implications – The proposed model provides guidance for future research aimed at advancing knowledge of IT outsourcing. Originality/value – The contribution lies in the development of specific variables, such as trust, knowledge, and organizational culture, which are related to building an outsourcing relationship and are used as determinants of the quality of organizational interfaces between public bureaucracies and IT outsourcing providers.

Information systems outsourcing satisfaction: some explanatory factors

“…In the event that joint initiatives should be shared with providers or even if ownership relationships exist between providers and clients, it will be much easier to attain objectives of an economic type. These results are in keeping with those obtained by Duhamel, Gutierrez, Picazo & Luna (2014).…”

IT Infrastructures Maintenance and Evolution in Public Sector Organizations: Main Challenges

“…Also, 8 other articles that focused on the IT identity crisis in the public sector were excluded. Finally, 11 articles analyzing the management of IT infrastructures in PSOs were kept and grouped into four categories: 1) Governance issues [14,15]; 2) Procurement issues [5,10,16]; 3) Outsourcing issues [17][18][19]; and 4) Big data and its implementation issues [20][21][22].…”

“…Despite these preoccupations, IT outsourcing in the public sector has increased because of the difficulties PSOs have in keeping pace with technological changes and with the growing complexity of the in-house support of the IT resources and capacities [32]. Duhamel et al [19] propose to focus on institutional measures and organizational factors that can influence and limit IT outsourcing in PSOs. These authors identify three variables that need to be taken into consideration to foster dialogue between PSOs and the IT outsourcing service providers: 1) mutual trust; 2) knowledge sharing; and 3) a common organizational culture.…”

A Study of Employee Perceptions of Outsourcing of Information Technology Operations in Banking Sector.

“…Recently outsourcing has become a critical part of the organization strategy that offers productivity, quality, performance, competitive advantage, specialized knowledge and technical skills (Robinson, 2016). It is considered that IT sector is the most outsourced sector among others (Duhamel, et al, 2014). Robinson (2016) stated in his study that the most outsourced IT functions as web development, tech support, telecommunication, system operation and planning.…”