Quo vadis: Descriptive and thematic analysis on IT outsourcing

Abstract

IT outsourcing is highly prioritized in science and practice. The number of scientific publications is increasing as rapid as market growth. Technological and market-related developments in scientific research and economic reality provide the motivation to conduct a literature review and give an outlook about future considerations of IT outsourcing. Overall, in the last decade back to 2000, 283 articles were analyzed. A systematic classification of research in IT outsourcing helps to categorize the wide range of topics in this field. Thematic developments, subject areas, research theories and industry sectors are analyzed in a systematic manner. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.