Information System Backsourcing – A review of the literature

Abstract

Information systems backsourcing describes the transfer of previously outsourced activities, assets, or personnel back to the company. By doing this they achieve control and ownership of the previously outsourced activity. As Information System Outsourcing (ISO) have gained significant focus in the literature, the phenomenon Information system backsourcing have not. Consequently, this thesis share the results and study the current papers that consider Information system backsourcing.

A literature review of published studies was considered and a total of 25 papers were found using several databases, relevant for the review on the topic. I categorized and identified different motivators using current literature and found factors that could ease or retain the decision to backsource. Finally, yet importantly, I identified implementation success factors for the backsourcing process, following the existing literature.

I found several holes in the current literature on IS backsourcing such as limited work on the implementation and the re-integration in the process. The motivators and factors that either ease or retain such a decision have gotten most attention, however there is also some parts that could get more attention in future research.

There is also some limitations in this thesis and the use of methodology. Cases of this was for instance, publication bias and aspects such as language and unavailable data. IS Backsourcing is an emerging trend, but needs more attention. Therefore, several suggestions for further research is discussed and proposed. This is mainly connected to the implementation process but also includes some aspects of the motivation for the decision.