- Hardcover: 286 pages
- Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc (6 May 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0195125665
- ISBN-13: 978-0195125665
- Product Dimensions: 23.9 x 15.5 x 2.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,384,314 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
One of the fastest growing industries in America is the outsourcing of information systems, with huge and small companies alike employing contractors to manage their powerful information networks. But how effective is it for executives to hire outsourcers to administer the complicated information systems that are so critical to today's organizations?
As Kathy M. Ripin and Leonard R. Sayles point out, what may seem to executives like the proverbial free lunch--outside experts taking responsibility for the endless vexations associated with information systems management--is far from free. Often, new systems that are supposed to respond effortlessly to managerial commands are over-priced, clumsy, and sometimes useless. Insider Strategies for Outsourcing Information Systems offers executives and managers experience-based guidelines that will enable them to avoid the seductive myths and illusions that distort contractor selection and new system planning decisions. At the heart of the book are three extended cases studies--a famous specialty retailer, a financial services company, and a European telecom company--that highlight the most frequent sources of new system failure, as well as how a client's measured involvement in the process of fine-tuning a new system can bring superb results. In clear and precise language, Ripin and Sayles make explicit the skills and solutions that have proven effective in outsourcing a wide variety information systems, from new application software to enterprise-wide networks.
Today, insatiable corporate expectations, an unforgiving stock market, and a brutal global economy have made it imperative that managers at all levels effectively administer their information networks. Insider Strategies for Outsourcing Information Systems is the book that will help them insure that their businesses survive--and thrive--in the information age.
As Kathy M. Ripin and Leonard R. Sayles point out, what may seem to executives like the proverbial free lunch--outside experts taking responsibility for the endless vexations associated with information systems management--is far from free. Often, new systems that are supposed to respond effortlessly to managerial commands are over-priced, clumsy, and sometimes useless. Insider Strategies for Outsourcing Information Systems offers executives and managers experience-based guidelines that will enable them to avoid the seductive myths and illusions that distort contractor selection and new system planning decisions. At the heart of the book are three extended cases studies--a famous specialty retailer, a financial services company, and a European telecom company--that highlight the most frequent sources of new system failure, as well as how a client's measured involvement in the process of fine-tuning a new system can bring superb results. In clear and precise language, Ripin and Sayles make explicit the skills and solutions that have proven effective in outsourcing a wide variety information systems, from new application software to enterprise-wide networks.
Today, insatiable corporate expectations, an unforgiving stock market, and a brutal global economy have made it imperative that managers at all levels effectively administer their information networks. Insider Strategies for Outsourcing Information Systems is the book that will help them insure that their businesses survive--and thrive--in the information age.
From the Publisher
An astute guide to selecting an information outsourcer.
One of the fastest growing industries in America is the outsourcing of information systems, with huge and small companies alike employing contractors to manage their powerful information networks. But how effective is it for executives to hire outsourcers to administer the complicated information systems that are so critical to today's organizations? As Kathy M. Ripin and Leonard R. Sayles point out, what may seem to executives like the proverbial free lunch--outside experts taking responsibility for the endless vexations associated with information systems management--is far from free. Often, new systems that are supposed to respond effortlessly to managerial commands are over-priced, clumsy, and sometimes useless. Insider Strategies for Outsourcing Information Systems offers executives and managers experience-based guidelines that will enable them to avoid the seductive myths and illusions that distort contractor selection and new system planning decisions. At the heart of the book are three extended cases studies--a famous specialty retailer, a financial services company, and a European telecom company--that highlight the most frequent sources of new system failure, as well as how a client's measured involvement in the process of fine-tuning a new system can bring superb results. In clear and precise language, Ripin and Sayles make explicit the skills and solutions that have proven effective in outsourcing a wide variety information systems, from new application software to enterprise-wide networks. Today, insatiable corporate expectations, an unforgiving stock market, and a brutal global economy have made it imperative that managers at all levels effectively administer their information networks. Insider Strategies for Outsourcing Information Systems is the book that will help them insure that their businesses survive--and thrive--in the information age.
One of the fastest growing industries in America is the outsourcing of information systems, with huge and small companies alike employing contractors to manage their powerful information networks. But how effective is it for executives to hire outsourcers to administer the complicated information systems that are so critical to today's organizations? As Kathy M. Ripin and Leonard R. Sayles point out, what may seem to executives like the proverbial free lunch--outside experts taking responsibility for the endless vexations associated with information systems management--is far from free. Often, new systems that are supposed to respond effortlessly to managerial commands are over-priced, clumsy, and sometimes useless. Insider Strategies for Outsourcing Information Systems offers executives and managers experience-based guidelines that will enable them to avoid the seductive myths and illusions that distort contractor selection and new system planning decisions. At the heart of the book are three extended cases studies--a famous specialty retailer, a financial services company, and a European telecom company--that highlight the most frequent sources of new system failure, as well as how a client's measured involvement in the process of fine-tuning a new system can bring superb results. In clear and precise language, Ripin and Sayles make explicit the skills and solutions that have proven effective in outsourcing a wide variety information systems, from new application software to enterprise-wide networks. Today, insatiable corporate expectations, an unforgiving stock market, and a brutal global economy have made it imperative that managers at all levels effectively administer their information networks. Insider Strategies for Outsourcing Information Systems is the book that will help them insure that their businesses survive--and thrive--in the information age.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Hardcover
I have never seen such pithy insights into why major development projects fail - and succeed. Rarely does anyone speak to management with such candor about their mistakes. And provide such clear and well founded examples of both success and failure. Anyone in a position to make decisions about new systems development should read this book.
Format:Hardcover
As a consultant involved in strategy change and training, I have seen the fruitless internal conflict over who is to blame when new systems are late or clumsy to implement. Any company involved in or considering new systems development will find Ripin and Sayles an invaluable resource for negotiating with potential vendors and facilitating IS development projects. They stress what is so often forgotten: the critical role of line manager and user participation ... including more realistic trade-offs between costs (and failure risks) and ambitious client wish lists. Their vivid case studies illustrate how client managers obtain new skills by project participation that enable them to make more effective use of these costly new technologies and even to fine tune applications. Outsourcer professionals and client staff and line managers will find Ripin and Sayles an engaging, well documented, and widely useful book on developing and implementing new information systems. A must read!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3 reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Bible for life with information systems outsourcing.
6 April 1999
Format:Hardcover
As a consultant involved in strategy change and training, I have seen the fruitless internal conflict over who is to blame when new systems are late or clumsy to implement. Any company involved in or considering new systems development will find Ripin and Sayles an invaluable resource for negotiating with potential vendors and facilitating IS development projects. They stress what is so often forgotten: the critical role of line manager and user participation ... including more realistic trade-offs between costs (and failure risks) and ambitious client wish lists. Their vivid case studies illustrate how client managers obtain new skills by project participation that enable them to make more effective use of these costly new technologies and even to fine tune applications. Outsourcer professionals and client staff and line managers will find Ripin and Sayles an engaging, well documented, and widely useful book on developing and implementing new information systems. A must read!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Essential reading for buyers of custom software
1 Oct 1999
Format:Hardcover
This book prepares buyers of custom software for the pitfalls inherent in developing a system. It explains why there must be give and take between buyer and developer, and why "tough" contracts offer little protection. I suspect this will come as news to many first-time buyers.
Insights into why Systems Development Projects succeed/fail.
10 April 1999
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have never seen such pithy insights into why major development projects fail - and succeed. Rarely does anyone speak to management with such candor about their mistakes. And provide such clear and well founded examples of both success and failure. Anyone in a position to make decisions about new systems development should read this book.
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