Since the beginnings of departmentalised corporate entities, Marketing personnel have maintained a certain familiarity with the phrase, “Last hired, first fired.” This is due in part to the misconceptions of some of the past business leaders who, until the mid-1980′s to 1990′s, did not truly understand the realm of Marketing and how it is critical to the on-going success of a business. When business was struggling, Marketing personnel would be hastily brought in for rescue, then dropped during success. Foresight of five to ten years “from now” is now the understood mode of operations, thus securing earlier and more consistent retention of Marketing employees within knowledgeable companies. Today, the same “learning curve” is blocking true understanding of the cruciality of Information Technology and Information Systems personnel within some organisations. IT personnel are mistakenly now

1. 17th
April 2013
Should you Outsource your
IT Department?
Imran Zaman @ DAYWATCHER.COM
1 © Copyright Imran Zaman, DAYWATCHER.COM 2009-13. All rights reserved.

2. Should you Outsource your IT Department?
Since the beginnings of departmentalised corporate entities, Marketing personnel
have maintained a certain familiarity with the phrase, “Last hired, first fired.”
This is due in part to the misconceptions of some of the past business leaders
who, until the mid-1980′s to 1990′s, did not truly understand the realm of
Marketing and how it is critical to the on-going success of a business. When
business was struggling, Marketing personnel would be hastily brought in for
rescue, then dropped during success. Foresight of five to ten years “from now” is
now the understood mode of operations, thus securing earlier and more
consistent retention of Marketing employees within knowledgeable companies.
Today, the same “learning curve” is blocking true understanding of the cruciality
of Information Technology and Information Systems personnel within some
organisations. IT personnel are mistakenly now the last hired and often the area
of first reductions in force. If one stops to consider today’s business landscape
and the complete integration of information systems and technologies within any
organisation, how could this be? What have formerly been looked upon as an
unnecessary departments and non-key personnel until companies reach an
optimum level of performance and profitability need to be regarded as what they
are: mission critical components of a young, growing, and/or fully-functioning
organisation. In other words, IT personnel are key to the success of all business.
When considering the importance of IT personnel and the internal IT department
within your company, remember these points:
1. An internally managed IT department is 100% dedicated to driving
the company forward.
How can a company in today’s technology-based business climate move forward
and grow at optimum speed, if the IT department is not always one step ahead
of “today’s operations?” A company’s future is now determined by its
technological pathway, regardless of the industry or product. Not having a fully
dedicated IT department is like trying to build a road beneath traffic, versus
building the roadway before the traffic is allowed to pass. Only an internal IT
department will truly have the vested interest, daily accountability, expertise
and dedication required to continually drive your organisation toward consistent
success.
2. Technological maintenance are better managed from within.
Technological maintenance is best directed by those with personal knowledge of
a company’s inner-workings, methodologies, processes, other employees, and
functionalities. An internal IT department will know the infrastructure of the
2 © Copyright Imran Zaman, DAYWATCHER.COM 2009-13. All rights reserved.

3. Should you Outsource your IT Department?
organisation better than anyone, and thus will be best able to lead the protection
of technological data and ensure network risks are minimised. Along with
knowing how best to determine the specific internal priorities toward regaining
operational status in the event of a system outage.
3. Competitive advantage is directly related to internal retention of
information.
For every piece of corporate detail or information that is directed externally
there is a risk. Even small bits of information add up to a bigger picture of a
company’s competitive advantage over time, whether the advantage is within
their processes, products, services, internal records, or even customer lists.
Confidentiality, non-compete and other contractual clauses won’t necessarily
hinder leaks, where a lack of conscience, loyalty or buy-in are concerned.
Regardless of the type of information passing over the network or through a
briefcase and out of the company, there is a market for it. The more individuals
participating within the business of a company without direct, internal control by
the company, the more likely that company is to lose competitive advantage.
4. Innovation is most likely to come from within.
It has long been known that a company’s biggest assets are the ones either
employed by that company or managed directly e.g. consultants, on-site IT
teams from external suppliers, etc. An ethical “Corporate culture” creates and
maintains the arena for innovations, developments, changes and growth that
propel organisations forward and beyond obstacles. This is the reason that many
corporations reward innovators within the company, through structured
programs promoting sharing of ideas. Simple “what if” scenarios mentioned in
Monday meetings are frequently the impetus for eventual major brand
innovation. If the “what if” is never heard, where does this leave your brand,
products or services?
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Thanks,
Imran Zaman.
Editor | DAYWATCHER.COM - The Business & Technology Blog
Email: imran.zaman@daywatcher.com| Web: http://www.daywatcher.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/daywatcherblog | LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/izaman
3 © Copyright Imran Zaman, DAYWATCHER.COM 2009-13. All rights reserved.