IT's Caution With Globalization

Filed in archive Opinions & Insights on July 9, 2008

Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, Image# 5807210

In an interesting recent post appearing in InfoWorld (link), Ephriam Schwartz discusses why IT management is more cautious about globalization and outsourcing than non-IT portions of an organization.

The primary reason cited is complexity of management, an assertion that I have regularly made in the past. This complexity is exacerbated by the fact that few managers are trained in managing global processes, whether insourced or outsourced, and even fewer C-level executives view management of global technology installations as a special skill requiring training and cultivation.

I do trust that business schools will, over time, develop formal curricula in this area, but even if they do, it will take years for these people to filter into the mid-level and senior-level positions in IT management. Until then, globalizing an IT organization will continue to pose serious challenges for corporate America.