“Information Technology outsourcing has become a global trend, but presents a range of risks as well as opportunities for an international business.” In the light of this statement, and using illustrative examples throughout: a) Define the terms ‘information technology’ and ‘outsourcing’. b) Explain why an international business would want to outsource its IT, including the reasons why offshore IT outsourcing may be attractive. c) Discuss the major risks and challenges an international business faces when outsourcing, and the distinctive risks and challenges when undertaking offshore outsourcing.

“Information Technology outsourcing has become a global trend, but presents a range of risks as well as opportunities for an international business.” In the light of this statement, and using illustrative examples throughout:

a) Define the terms ‘information technology’ and ‘outsourcing’.

b) Explain why an international business would want to outsource its IT, including the reasons why offshore IT outsourcing may be attractive.

c) Discuss the major risks and challenges an international business faces when outsourcing, and the distinctive risks and challenges when undertaking offshore outsourcing.

d) In recent years, a noticeable trend has been ‘backsourcing’, that is bringing offshored IT back ‘in-house’, that is under internal management and control. What do you think explains this trend?