This text investigates the strategic decision-making processes and operational challenges inherent in outsourcing information systems within large-scale organizations. The authors, drawing on their extensive experience in management consulting and organizational behavior, provide a framework for evaluating the risks and benefits of externalizing IT functions. They analyze the shift from internal control to vendor partnerships, emphasizing the necessity of aligning technological infrastructure with broader corporate objectives. The book serves as a guide for executives navigating the complexities of vendor selection, contract management, and the maintenance of internal technical competency.

Experts identify this work as a foundational text for understanding the organizational dynamics of IT management in the late 20th century. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous examination of the structural shifts required when transitioning to external service providers.