Co-Sourcing
Outsourcing technical functions, while considered the way of the future several years ago, is now recognized to be more complicated. Throwing something ‘over the wall’ to an outsourcer and expecting them to deliver exactly what you wanted was a nice idea, but reality has always fallen far short of the promise. In order to get the results you want from an outsourcer, you have to actively manage that relationship, and after you’ve spent all that time doing so, you wonder if it would have been less effort, in the long run, just to have done it yourself in the first place.
At Logicworks, we believe co-sourcing is a highly effective alternative to either the outsourcing or do-it-yourself models. We know how to manage the infrastructure, the servers and the administration, but our clients invariably are the ones who know their application the best. Bringing both sets of knowledge and expertise together is essential in resolving thorny issues, or figuring out the best plan for scaling to the next level. When we say we act as partners with our clients, we mean it, and, frankly, having great, smart clients is one of the things that make our jobs highly worthwhile.
In other scenarios, where the task at hand falls out of scope for Logicworks’ services, but is beyond the capabilities of the clients, Logicworks can bring one of its Solutions Partners to bridge the gaps. These firms specialize in various applications and procedures, such as data warehousing for Oracle, and Logicworks has long standing working relationships with these partners. Typically consultancies, their job is to delve into clients’ applications, and assist in areas outside of Logicworks’ core mission.
In any co-sourcing relationship, it is imperative to keep the lines of responsibility unambiguous. Logicworks very clearly states its responsibilities and obligations, so that it is clear what clients are responsible for themselves. That is not to say we won’t offer advice and guidance when asked, or won’t go above and beyond the call of duty when the need arises, only that we want to set clients’ expectations accurately. The delineation of responsibility between Logicworks and its clients is akin to the traditional delineation in the IT world between the administrator and the developer, a division of labor that has withstood the test of time, and proven highly effective in complex operations management.
