Partnership quality in IT outsourcing: a mixed methods review of its measurement

Abstract

[Abstract]: There is little doubt that how an IT outsourcing relationship is managed has a significant bearing on the overall success of an outsourcing venture. However, there has been a lack of empirical research with the view to developing a better understanding of the partnership type relationship between the client organisation and outsourcing vendor. This paper reports on the measurement and applicability of partnership quality using a mixed methods approach. The findings confirmed six dimensions of partnership quality which are important in evaluating the quality of a partnership type relationship in IT outsourcing. But findings also show that a partnership type relationship is more likely to exist for small to medium sized organisations.