Outsource It!: A No-Holds-Barred Look at the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Offshoring Tech Projects

Q & A with Outsource It! author Nick Krym

Q. Why did you write Outsource It!?

A. Outsourced projects have been a big part of my professional life for more than 20 years, and I've seen countless failures. In the vast majority of the cases, the failures were due to the buyers’ lack of knowledge-- and these were smart, well-intended technology pros. I hope Outsource It! will prevent some of these failures and help readers make the most of their outsourcing engagements.

Q. What elements of outsourcing do you concentrate on in your book?

A. Outsource It! covers the entire lifecycle of outsourcing, from making the decision whether to outsource, to terminating an engagement. Some of the most important topics the book covers are vendor selection, contract negotiation, running distributed engagements, mitigating risks, and communication strategies.

Q. What are the most common outsourcing mistakes?

A. If I had to name only one, it would be going offshore when better alternatives are available right in your own backyard. Another common mistake is treating outsourcing lightly. Offshore outsourcing is one of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal, but mishandled, it can misfire, creating a lot of direct and collateral damage.

Q. Is there a secret sauce to your outsourcing strategies?

A. I really don't think so. Outsource It! is based on simple, down-to-earth techniques that most of us can easily implement. I do cover a few topics that are “voodoo” of a sort-- for example, vendor personality-- which could be a critical element for engagement success.

Q. What the minimum and maximum sizes for a project that one should consider for outsourcing?

A. There are no high or low limits for outsourcing. Ridiculously small tasks such as cleaning up PowerPoint presentations can be outsourced to freelancers. Huge tasks such as implementing ERP systems for multinational corporations are commonly outsourced, as well. The key is to match the vendor to the task at hand.

Q. Is India the best place for outsourcing IT projects?

A. It all depends on the needs of the projects and realities of the organization. For some engagements, outsourcing to Latin America could be more meaningful; in some cases, China presents a great alternative to India; in other cases, Eastern Europe can offer a lot of advantages. Even North America offers great options with rural outsourcing or outsourcing to Canada.