Recently, a successful global client invested a significant amount of time and money to develop “end state design” architectures for their IT infrastructure.  Virtually every IT leader and subject-matter-expert became involved, along with significant support from technology suppliers and consultants. This is not unusual for the outsourcing world, unless you consider that the scope of work you’ve architected is planned to be outsourced to third-party providers.

So should a client invest in future IT infrastructure architecture prior to outsourcing, or should they wait and work with the selected provider? Do you choose the chicken or the egg?

On one hand, internal IT leadership is duty-bound to be aligned with business strategy; and therefore best qualified (one hopes) to architect a technology framework that assures support to the business.  On the other hand, the selected provider must leverage its existing architecture and processes to deliver quality services at the lowest possible price.  When a client’s future vision is in conflict with their provider’s economies-of-scale position, then who holds the trump card?

Clients should consider their future view of technology requirements as they prepare to outsource IT infrastructure.Their “end state design” should be both informative and directional for competing candidate providers; and part of the evaluation criteria for determining best-fit with a provider. But spending significant time and money planning out every detail of the IT infrastructure architecture is not necessary. Alsbridge has sourcing advisors with deep industry expertise to help you through the sourcing process.