In this seminar one year ago, I wrote and spoke about the growing phenomenon in New Zealand of outsourcing information technology functions. That phenomenon has continued to grow, but in my view, expectations in respect of the results which can be gained from outsourcing and the direction in which outsourcing has evolved have changed both within New Zealand and internationally.
History repeats itself.
It occurs in cycles. This is because new HR products are available for running on processors more easily administered by the client in-house and because of the growing perception of a need to ensure confidentiality of data. I spoke about the necessary elements of a successful outsourcing project. The elements discussed have again been the subject of recent international commentary. It is useful to revisit those elements or principles as restated by the international commentators.