The CIO role. Some critics felt Hudson might outsource herself out of a job at Kodak, but she never believed it. Instead of just running computer operations, I was able to focus much more on strategic applications. By identifying areas where costs could be saved or IT capabilities improved through outsourcing, many CIOs have demonstrated their value and cleared their desks to concentrate on more strategic issues. And outsourcing isn't just for large, established companies.
Many startups now consider outsourcing a key initial strategy.
People and processes now are more scarce than technology and money. They may be the new currency. Outsourcing is in no small part to blame for the retention aspect of the current IS staffing crisis because IT workers now realize that companies aren't loyal to individuals, and that there are real opportunities and dollars to be made by working for an IT vendor. Face it, a career IT staffer at Starbucks is never going to be a part of the coffee retailer's core competency. But at IBM, IT is the core competency.