Motivations and Governance Structures of Multi Sourcing Relationships

Vendor Side Challenges in Simultaneously Competing & Cooperating

The discussion saw an eminent panel, positing views, both from the client and vendor perspective, and focussing on the best practices. They also identified current challenges. The domains of banking and telecom were prominently featured. The panellists comprised Meera Sanyal, Head of Asia Services, ABN AMR, Siva Ganesan, Global Relationship Director, TCS, Mritunjay Singh, Divisional Manager, Infosys, P. Balki, Telecom Solution Centre Delivery Head, TCS, and more. The panel was moderated by Prof. Ravi Bapna, Executive Director, CITNE, and Prof. Anitesh Barua, University of Texas at Dallas.

The day started with a welcome address by Prof. M. Rammohan Rao. Dean, ISB, who projected the ISB philosophy, vision and milestones, and wished all the panelists a very stimulating discussion on multi-sourcing.

Prof. Bapna, in his inaugural address, said, "The CITNE is developing a research agenda around issues relating to multi-sourcing. Our initial interest is in exploring the antecedents of successful outcome, when a client engages with multiple IT/ITeS partners to achieve their business needs." He stressed that the CITNE will continue to focus on research that will impact business and issues that matter to society.

Ms. Sanyal presented a multi-sourcing vendor model which covered the entire gamut of software, hardware, infrastructure management, telecom services, etc. She also explained about the role of the 'guardian vendor' and relation ship management, both crucial to multi-sourcing.

Mr. Ganesan laid stress on the need for 'agility to manage challenges in tandem with other players'. He said that there was a need for strong global and local governance for effective multi-sourcing. Mr. Singh posited an interesting theory of a 'flat world' which will shape multi-sourcing in the future. The need was, he said, 'speed, flexibility and efficiency'.

The discussions endeavoured to put across new mindset and frameworks for an integrated and holistic sourcing strategy across all services.

Concluded.

Contributed by -
Ms. Bhuvana Ramalingam,
Director - Communications,
Indian School of Business, Hyderabad.