For Sourcing & Vendor Management Professionals

Don't Let Resourcing Issues Delay Your 2009 Projects

by Tim Sheedy, January 14, 2009

As enterprise appetite for IT project work slows down, systems integrators and IT consultants are trimming staff and reining in growth plans to ensure continued profitability. This might affect their ability to meet requirements for your project work . . .

For Sourcing & Vendor Management Professionals

What To Do When Economic Volatility Strikes

Adjusting Services Sourcing For Effective IT Service Delivery

by Euan Davis, January 6, 2009

Business priorities radically shift during a recession and sourcing strategy and execution must follow. But changing the sourcing strategy without due care to its execution creates new risk. Urgent short-term needs can force tactics that undermine long-term . . .

For Sourcing & Vendor Management Professionals

Offshore Outsourcing: Things To Consider When Firing Your Provider

by Stephanie Moore, October 15, 2008

As offshore outsourcing clients continue to feel the pain of providers' resource constraints and escalating costs in India, they are more inclined than in the past to switch providers. Although this is never an easy option, there are ways to protect your . . .

For Sourcing & Vendor Management Professionals

Consolidating Vendors Brings Operational Benefits As Well As Dollar Savings

Demand Management With The Business Is Key To Avoiding New Proliferation

by Christine Ferrusi Ross, Caroline Hoekendijk, June 13, 2008

The theoretical basis for vendor consolidation and its potential profits has been out there for quite some time. Yet, many companies are struggling with their supplier base in terms of the number of suppliers. This has to do with the fact that most sourcing . . .

For Sourcing & Vendor Management Professionals

Sourcing Professionals Can Use Advisory Firms To Help Architect Healthy Deals

Advisors Can Add Value But Don't Offer A Panacea For All Woes

by Paul Roehrig, Ph.D., March 28, 2008

Specialized outsourcing advisors are consulting firms that focus on creating outsourcing strategies and, when needed, supporting their clients through the outsourcing deal life cycle. Sourcing and vendor management professionals considering or initiating . . .

For Sourcing & Vendor Management Professionals

BT's Green Strategy Unfolds

by Euan Davis, July 23, 2007

Sourcing executives grappling with internal targets to cut carbon emissions can learn a lot from BT. By engaging with key stakeholders across its business, the telecom giant should hit its ambitious 10-year target to reduce its carbon impact. The company's . . .

For Sourcing & Vendor Management Professionals

Shattering The Offshore Captive Center Myth

More Than 60% Of Captive Centers Struggle With Escalating Attrition And Costs

by Sudin Apte, April 30, 2007

The trend of establishing a firm's own facility — known as a "captive center" — in locations like India, China, or Russia continues to find converts. During the past two years, more than 300 North American and European companies started their own offshore . . .

For Sourcing & Vendor Management Professionals

Why Green IT Should Feature In Sourcing Plans

Tech Vendors And Regulators Push Green IT Initiatives

by Euan Davis, April 5, 2007

The shift in consumer opinion and the creation of new government regulations in favor of protecting the environment have pushed green issues onto the boardroom agenda. Firms like DuPont, HP, and Marks & Spencer have already made significant environmental . . .

For Sourcing & Vendor Management Professionals

Enterprise IT Outsourcing Models

Large Enterprise IT Outsourcing Programs Follow Consistent Patterns

by Richard Peynot, April 2, 2007

IT outsourcing decisions seldom result from an enterprise-level vision but rather from opportunistic corporate behavior. To make better and more strategic decisions, service buyers need reference points, like systematic outsourcing models. After years . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Shared Services Consortium Buying Brings Enterprise-Class Benefits To Public Sector SMEs

by R "Ray" Wang, February 15, 2007

Access to enterprise-class business applications often remains out of reach for school districts, municipalities, state authorities, and small to midsize state governments. However, for business process and applications professionals, buying consortia . . .

Close The Software Negotiation GAAP!

Buyers Must Help Vendors Work Around Their Accounting Constraints

by Duncan Jones, January 2, 2007

Software vendors frequently refuse to give in to IT buyers' perfectly reasonable commercial requests for simple contractual commitments covering future license audits, maintenance price increases, and product enhancements. One reason for this that buyers . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

An Enterprise Software Licensee's Bill Of Rights

Forrester Defines 36 Basic Rights That Licensees Should Demand From Vendors

by R "Ray" Wang, December 18, 2006

Of all the assets that an enterprise acquires, enterprise software brings with it the most unusual, onerous, and restrictive set of constraints. In most cases, licensees may not resell, reuse, or share their license. Licensees often encounter numerous . . .