Aligning drivers, contractual governance, and relationship management of IT-outsourcing initiatives

Research has investigated information technology (IT) outsourcing from various angles and established a sound knowledge base regarding drivers, management, and success factors of IT-outsourcing initiatives. In this study, we focus on the alignment between outsourcing drivers and goals, on the one hand, and contractual and managerial aspects on the other. We develop a conceptual model of IT-outsourcing alignment to analyze a single, in-depth case of IT outsourcing in a large Nordic company. Our study extends the existing literature on IT outsourcing by highlighting the need for achieving a fit among drivers, contractual, and managerial factors of IT-outsourcing initiatives.