Ch. 11 Systems Development and Project Management{0}
In reading the article from Telcomworldwire, “IBM and QBE signs outsourcing infrastructure constract,” the article discusses IT company IBM agreement with QBE Insurance Group, a specialist business insurer, to manage the information technology infrastructure of QBE’s UK and Western European offices.
The agreement will make major changes to QBE programming and cover the development and maintenance of QBE’s information technology support services(IBM and QBE, 2009). The outsourcing of the job responsibilities to IBM will allow QBE to better be able manage prioritize its operations. IBM will be working from their Portsmouth data centre to support the business all while virtualisation of the server will reduce QBE’s carbon footprint and provide a higher availability and scalability for business growth(IBM and QBE, 2009).
The IBM and QBE outsourcing contract is a perfect example of a company outsourcing their operations in order to gain advantage in their operations sector. Outsourcing has many benefits that include gaining increased quality and efficiency of processes and increased flexibility allowing to respond quickly to changing market demands. Also the access to IBM’s expertise will allow QBE to take advantage of resources other than their own. The article also exemplifies the reach IBM has within the IT world. Taking over QBE’s operations in the UK and Western Europe shows the global reach IBM has and the QBE’s trust in using its resources to take over their operations. QBE’s reliance on IBM information technology will provide them access to an array of service QBE was not able to achieve on its own.
IBM and QBE signs outsourcing infrastructure constract. Retrieved November 12, 2009 from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m4PRN/is_2009_Oct_30/ai_n39398017/?tag=content;col1