A new look at nearly 20 years of theoretical and practical research on IT outsourcing, this book explores how good IT outsourcing theories shape practice and how effective IT outsourcing practices inform theory. It highlights the importance of examining theories borrowed from economics, strategy, and sociology to study IT outsourcing.

MARY CECELIA LACITY is a Professor of Information Systems and International Business Fellow at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She has written eight books, most recently Offshore Outsourcing of IT Work, (Palgrave, 2008; co-author Joe Rottman) and Global Sourcing of Business and IT Services (Palgrave, 2006; co-author Leslie Willcocks). Her 40 journal publications have appeared in the Harvard Business Review, Sloan Management Review, MIS Quarterly, IEEE Computer, Communications of the ACM and many other academic and practitioner outlets. Her work has been cited more than 2800 times. She is US Editor of the Journal of Information Technology, and Co-editor of the Palgrave Series: Work, Technology, and Globalization and on the Editorial Boards for MIS Quarterly Executive, Journal of Strategic Information Systems, and Strategic Outsourcing.
 
LESLIE WILLCOCKS is Professor of Technology Work and Globalization and Director of the Outsourcing Unit at the London School of Economics and Political Science, UK. He has co-authored 29 books and over 150 refereed journal papers on the management of information and communications technologies, and their impact on organizations. He is Editor of the Journal of Information Technology and is internationally recognised for his academic research, and his advisory work for major corporations and government agencies.

PART I: INTRODUCTION
Outsourcing Research: Towards More Informed Practice--Mary C. Lacity and Leslie P. Willcocks
PART II: THEORIES
Transaction Cost Economics Applied to IT Outsourcing: Findings and Critique--Mary C. Lacity and Leslie P. Willcocks
The Normative Value of Transaction Cost Economics in IT Outsourcing--Laura Poppo and Mary C. Lacity
Dombergers Theory of Contracting Applied to IT Outsourcing--Peter Seddon, Sara Cullen, and Leslie P. Willcocks
Contracting and Relationship Theories Applied to IT Outsourcing--Thomas Kern and Leslie P. Willcocks
PART III: STUDIES OF PRACTICE
Outsourcing Myths and Contracting Realities--Mary C. Lacity and Rudy Hirschheim
Making the Outsourcing Decision--Mary C. Lacity, David Feeny and Leslie P. Willcocks
IT and Business Process Outsourcing: The Knowledge Potential--Leslie P. Willcocks, John Hindle, David Feeny and Mary C. Lacity
Knowledge Transfer in Offshore Outsourcing--Joseph Rottman and Mary C. Lacity
IT Offshore Outsourcing Practices--Joseph Rottman and Mary C.Lacity
Selecting and Leveraging Outsourcing Providers--Sara Cullen, Leslie P. Willcocks and Mary C. Lacity
Managing Relationships across the Lifecycle of an Outsourcing Arrangement--Mary C. Lacity and Leslie P. Willcocks
IT Sourcing: Reflections on Practice--Mary C. Lacity and Leslie P. Willcocks
Expertise Management in Distributed Offshore Outsourcing--Ilan Oshri, Julia Kotlarsky, and Leslie Willcocks
Playing Catch-Up with Core IS Capabilities: The Secrets of Success--Leslie Willcocks, Peter Reynolds and David Feeny