Engineering and Technology Management Series

Outsourcing Technical Management
12:30 p.m., May 28, 2004
at OCATE

Outsourcing continues to be problematic, not least because fundamental learning about this subject fails to be applied systematically and because software development and functions are inherently difficult to manage. Unfortunately, complexities are not removed in outsourced situations where additional problems come into play, for example, the supplier's capabilities, whether the application or function is right for an outsourcing solution, and whether the contract is robust but flexible enough to allow for outsourcing to take place. Objectives need to be realistic, and factors such as whether the internal management is mature and capable enough in this field, and the impact of prohibitive switching costs on behavior once an outsourcing deal has been signed, all have to be taken into account.
 
This presentation:
* Focuses on the fundamentals of what should be done and what should be avoided, based on actual experience applied in major IT outsourcing deals

* Presents research findings and case examples included throughout to support recommended practices

* Provides a set of outsourcing templates, checklists, and success criteria.
 
By the end of this talk, practitioners will be able to focus in on the essential issues that need to be addressed so that the fundamental structure of their sourcing strategy and its implementation is sound.


This lecture is organized by Dundar Kocaoglu (503-725-4660), Department of Engineering and Technology Management, Portland State University.

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About David Reed:

Current: application architect for Hewlett-Packard designing integrated systems for their business management function.  In this role he is the technical manager for outsourced applications.

David Reed is a senior technologist with 20 years of experience building complex applications. He has worked extensively with outsourcers managing an offshore development staff of 125. Through this experience he has developed relationships with the CTOs and CEOs of major outsourcers and developed methods, metrics, and templates to aid in a virtual management environment.

David also teaches software engineering, computer architecture, and graduate database courses for the University of Maryland and Portland State University, respectively.  He has two patents in E-commerce and database technology and is a Fellow in Wharton Business School's E-Fellow program.