IT Infrastructure Outsourcing

2. { } Understanding the buying organization’s readiness sets the foundation for long-term success Buyers can position themselves for success by sufficiently assessing their organization. Avoid decisions in a vacuum 1 Consult leadership and influencers 2 Begin to understand where you are, where you want to be and how to get there 3

3. 1 Avoid decisions in a vacuum { } Support from senior functional and business leaders will be crucial. Establish a working group or steering committee to maintain transparency, oversight and balance throughout the decision-making process.

4. 2 Consult leadership and influencers { } Questions for stakeholders should address perceptions of cost, performance, culture, and strategy, among other things “ Example questions for stakeholders: Are we prepared to manage a multi-supplier environment? ”

5. 2 Consult leadership and influencers { } Questions for stakeholders should address perceptions of cost, performance, culture, and strategy, among other things “ Example questions for stakeholders: Can outsourcing provide either reliable scale or flexibility at a better price? ”

6. 2 Consult leadership and influencers { } Questions for stakeholders should address perceptions of cost, performance, culture, and strategy, among other things “ Example questions for stakeholders: Is there a strategic need to retain internal services or resources? ”

7. 2 Consult leadership and influencers { } Questions for stakeholders should address perceptions of cost, performance, culture, and strategy, among other things “ Example questions for stakeholders: Is there a need to refocus internal resources and management into other areas? ”

8. 2 Consult leadership and influencers { } Questions for stakeholders should address perceptions of cost, performance, culture, and strategy, among other things “ Example questions for stakeholders: Can a supplier provide an equal or better level of service (performance)? ”

9. 2 Consult leadership and influencers { } Questions for stakeholders should address perceptions of cost, performance, culture, and strategy, among other things “ Example questions for stakeholders: Does it provide us better access to skills or enablers to drive our business? ”

10. Begin to understand where you are, where you want to be and how to get there 3 { } The goal is to answer many of the questions you asked of the stakeholders, and use that information to shape the outsourcing strategy and planning. Outsourcing Buyer Due Diligence Method:

11. { } Supplier Readiness: Build towards greater trust and collaboration Outsourcing Relationship Maturity Model: As buyers implement more mature processes, tools and governance structures, they’re able to source and manage outsourcing suppliers with higher levels of trust and expectation, moving towards a collaborative or partnership-type relationship leaders will be crucial.

12. You may also be interested in: Mastering your Data Center Move Steps to a successful project Sourcing through ITSM Why IT transformation can ensure sourcing success About Align: Align is a global infrastructure technology solutions firm specializing in technology optimization initiatives — designing, deploying, moving and consolidating technologies and advanced network infrastructures. For more than 25 years, the world’s leading firms have relied on Align to empower their IT — enabling business and IT to achieve alignment and delivering solutions for business change and growth. Register at www.align.com/resources to read the full white paper