An investigation of issues in information systems (IS) sourcing management.

These three interrelated essays study the central problems organizations face in managing outsourcing relationships. The first essay1 identifies a multi-theoretic model of the longevity of IS sourcing relationships. This study identifies factors that influence the contract duration as well as relationship duration in IS sourcing arrangements. The research question raised at this stage was what forces influence the continuation or dissolution of on-going sourcing relationships? To answer this question, nationwide survey data was tested using a survival analysis technique with an accelerated failure time method.