Conditions Influencing Client-IS Supplier Interactions During IS Outsourcing

The extent of outsourcing information systems (IS) activities has been significant and the trend seems likely to continue in the foreseeable future. IS outsourcing relationships bring challenges that need to be understood and managed. The client–IS supplier relationship as such is one of the less frequently examined topics in IS outsourcing research. This paper contributes to the IS outsourcing relationship literature by describing conditions influencing client–IS supplier interactions during IS outsourcing. The paper sets out from the interaction approach as it contributes new insights to IS outsourcing relationships. The interaction approach is complemented with elements to increase the description of IS outsourcing relationship interactions. The elements are composed of viewing the client firm and the IS supplier firm as being comprised of business, process and IS level and the dimensions contract and management. The conditions influencing client–IS supplier interactions are presented in the form of a conceptual framework which when adopted can contribute to a better understanding of the features of IS outsourcing relationships and facilitate for firms in their decision-making of IS outsourcing.