MIS-aligned student perspectives of outsourcing and offshoring

Outsourcing and offshoring (sourcing) aspects of IS functions have been common organizational activities for decades. However, the landscape is evolving. Organizations are shifting from primarily single vendor-client sourcing relationships toward innovative multi-vendor relationships integrated into organizational strategic plans. Current students are tomorrow\u27s leaders, and as such it is critical that IS programs teach cutting edge strategic sourcing concepts. We analyzed student perceptions of the pros and cons of sourcing and found that current students largely anchor to a limited number of concepts that may be outdated and not representative of today\u27s competitive sourcing landscape. Current organizational trends in sourcing require a different skill set for IS managers than those required in the past. More must be done to inform students of current trends in order to prepare them for the skills needed to be effective in their future IS roles. A framework of required skills for future IS managers is offered