END-USER INVOLVEMENT IN OUTSOURCED IT PROJECTS

Introduction

Developing and designing software is not a simple task at all. Many companies outsource the development of software and get it through a firm, which is specializing in the field of development of software. A number of such companies have really successful over the globe, and, therefore, today the industry of software outsourcing has become a big business. Such companies have a particular team, which consist of experts in their field, for this purpose. These teams work with high dedication and high end professionalism. They keep all accounts of their customers. To maintain amiable association with the customers, these teams finish their task within the pre-decided time frame. (Willcocks 1996, Pp.143). During the process, the biggest problem could be with the end user of the project, because they are the people who will be affected the most by the implementation of the new project. The end users should be involved in the project right from the start.

After seeing so many optimistic facets of development of software, more and more firms are hiring an outsourcing firm in the developing countries. The famous software outsourcing services nations include countries like India and China. IN recent times, India has become the heart for the European countries. They have a vast pond of clever, experienced and highly skilled people. These people have the ability to handle complex projects in a diligent way and meet the deadlines of the project in a prompt manner. (Willcocks, Lacity & Fitzgerald 1995, Pp 333)

PROBLEMS WITH END USERS IN IT OUTSOURCING

End Users Acceptance

The single most common problem with outsourcing concerns the end user acceptance, the companies tend to ignore the end user acceptance for the cheaper cost of technology. Almost every outsourcer quotes significant cost savings as one of the main benefits for using their outsourcing services. One of the main reasons that Australian Federal & State Governments are so keen to outsource is that they have been told by outsourcing organizations that they can save hundreds of millions of dollars. However, as Australian federal government departments have found, (as have many other organizations) outsourcing has not saved them the promised millions. In fact, all the research that is now available shows that very few outsourcing projects actually save money. Those that do are typically in areas where there are services which require a high capital cost for equipment to deliver the services and/or high cost of service availability, but the frequency and/or cost of service delivery are relatively low e.g. weekly garbage collection, hardware maintenance & support (Hodge 1996, Pp.58). This problem of non-existent cost savings, however, more a symptom than a cause is - it actually reflects much deeper problems in the organization. These problems are mainly concerned with the organization having taken for granted many of the services previously provided by it in-house staff. These services, along with other activities are not coated and are, therefore, hidden as far as the organization is concerned. For example, an expert said that, “As ...