Abstract
This research bulletin examines outsourcing and cloud computing through the lens of strategic decision making for higher education. Strategic decisions have long-term impact, create institutional advantage, are difficult to reverse, affect organizational scope, stretch resources and competencies, and often require high-level governance. As such, they are inherently risky because they often involve a high degree of uncertainty. Outsourcing, particularly when applied to core or infrastructure services, can have unintended consequences that should be weighed during the decision-making process.
Citation for this work: Corn, Michael A. “Strategic Outsourcing and Cloud Computing: Reality Is a Sober Adversary (Research Bulletin, Issue 12). Boulder, CO: EDUCAUSE Center for Analysis and Research, 2009, available from http://www.educause.edu/ecar.