Evaluating Knowledge Management and Lessons Learned in IT Outsourcing

This report investigates the application of knowledge management and lessons learned in IT outsourcing projects. It explores the concept of knowledge management, its importance, and the associated risks and challenges, particularly when outsourcing IT projects overseas, with a focus on India. The report reviews existing literature to define knowledge management and identify key risks such as data security breaches and communication challenges. It analyzes the need for effective knowledge management in outsourcing, emphasizing its role in controlling information flow and ensuring data security. The research methodology includes a quantitative approach using surveys and statistical analysis to gather and interpret data from international clients. The report also examines mitigation strategies to reduce risks in future outsourcing projects, such as aligning cultural and work ethics and prioritizing project management. The findings aim to provide insights into improving knowledge management practices and mitigating risks in IT outsourcing, contributing to the success of international IT projects.

Application of knowledge
management and lessons
learned in outsourcing
IT projects

Table of Contents
1. 0. Introduction..............................................................................................................................1
1.1 Background/Context.........................................................................................................1
1.2 Aim and Objectives..........................................................................................................1
1.3 Research Question (or Hypothesis)..................................................................................1
1.4 Rationale...........................................................................................................................2
2. 0. Literature..................................................................................................................................2
2.1 Overview..........................................................................................................................2
2.2 To review the concept of knowledge management..........................................................3
2.3. To determine the key risk and challenges associated while outsourcing IT projects
overseas especially to India....................................................................................................3
2.4. To analysis the importance and need of the knowledge management while outsourcing
the IT project..........................................................................................................................4
2.5. To investigate about the effective mitigation strategies that can be used for future
outsourcing of IT project overseas.........................................................................................4
2.6 Summary...........................................................................................................................4
3.0 Research Philosophy and Design...............................................................................................5
3.1 Research Method/Methodology.......................................................................................5
3.2 Research Methods and Instruments for Data Collection..................................................5
3.3 Sampling...........................................................................................................................5
3.4 Data Analysis Tools.........................................................................................................5
3.5 Access and Ethics.............................................................................................................6
4.0 Summary....................................................................................................................................6
4.1 Summary...........................................................................................................................6

4.2 Timescale..........................................................................................................................6
4.3 Anticipated Limitations..................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

1. 0. Introduction
1.1 Background
The concept of the knowledge management tends to be related and associated with the
process of effective organizing, creating, using as well as effective sharing of collective
knowledge within a firm. Further, it has been seen that the concept of outsourcing is being
related and associated with the strategic use of the outside resources in order to perform the
activities in more efficient way through taking use of some external services (Cohen and Mou,
2022). Thus, Outsourcing is tending to be a management strategy that is sued by a form as
outsources major and also include the non-core functions to specialized and have the efficient
service providers. Besides this, the key benefits of the outsourcing IT project tend to comprises
of the having of the improvement within the team management along with ensuring and leading
out a more transparent way of development process. However the outsourcing has carted many
issues and challenges related with the knowledge management as higher risk of theft and leakage
of information and data is being faced by organisation while outsourcing its IT project.
1.2 Aim and Objectives
The main aim of the current project is, “To evaluate about the importance of knowledge
management while outsourcing IT project along with analysing mitigation strategies for future
outsourcing.
Objective
 To review the concept of knowledge management
 To determine the key risk and challenges associated while outsourcing IT projects
overseas especially to India.
 To analysis the importance and need of the knowledge management while outsourcing
the IT project
 To investigate about the effective mitigation strategies that can be used for future
outsourcing of IT project overseas.
1.3 Research Question (or Hypothesis)
 What is meant by the concept of knowledge management
 How do the international clients especially within the Americans, English, Australians or
Canadian tend to manage their Lesson Learned from international IT project outsourcing?
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 What have been learnt from previous experiences about the key risk and challenges
associated while outsourcing IT projects overseas especially to India?
 What possible need and importance of the knowledge management is being seen while
outsourcing the IT project?
 Which can be the effective mitigation strategies that reduces the risks of outsourcing the
IT projects overseas especially to India?
1.4 Rationale
The selection of current topic based on the application of knowledge management while
outsourcing IT project is seemed to be rationale as it has been seen that outsourcing of the
project is tend to be significant and beneficial for a firm. However, the outsourcing services also
created a higher risk on knowledge management based on risk of leakage of confidential data.
Therefore, selection of current topic based on the evaluate about the importance of knowledge
management while outsourcing IT project along with analysing mitigation strategies for future
outsourcing is rationale. The current project would be helpful for the international client that are
engaged in outsourcing of IT project as it offers effective discussion about the risk associated
with international IT outscoring project along with suggesting mitigation strategy to overcome
these risk in further outsourcing (Tsai and et. al., 2022). Along with this, the current study is also
helpful and effective for the researcher as it would support and lead to higher skill development
and knowledge creation. Besides this, it has also vital for other researcher and scholar to have
and gain better underdoing and knowledge about the topic of the Application of knowledge
management and lessons learned in outsourcing IT projects.
2. 0. Literature
2.1 Overview
The literature review tends to forms out a vital and important section of every research
project that tend to supports and brings out the systematic analysis of the pre-exiting information
to set a better base and framework for knowledge creation. The current literature review is based
on the topic of the Application of knowledge management and lessons learned in outsourcing IT
projects and its objective for which analysis of various online article and journal is made a
decision of which is provided in this section of project.
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2.2 To review the concept of knowledge management
As per the view point of the Gupta, R.S., 2022, it has been seen and find out that the
concept of knowledge management is tend to be related with the process by the which the
company tend to effectively organise as well as generate the valuable information based in there
intellectual and knowledge based assets. Further, the concept of the knowledge management is
tending to be related and associated with the effective accumulation, storing as well as effective
sharing the knowledge that tend to allows the firm to create a culture that significantly improve
operational efficiency (Battistella and Treff, 2022). Beside this, the key benefits and advantages
of the knowledge management within a form tend to consists of the fact that it faster the sharing
of needed information along with spending of less time in recreating the exiting knowledge.
Further, effective knowledge management also supports and speed up innovation based on fact
that it ensure that mistake are not repeated and leaning spread quicker.
2.3. To determine the key risk and challenges associated while outsourcing IT projects overseas
especially to India.
According to the view point of the Emiliano de Souza, D., Favoretto, C. and Carvalho,
M.M., 2022, it has been seen that outsourcing IT project b rings many advantages and benefits in
form of the cost cutting and also enhance the capability of the form to focus on the other business
operations along with generating improved management. However, many issues and challenges
are also being lead out by the associated while outsourcing IT projects overseas especially to
India comprises of the possibility of weak management along with unexperienced staff and
business uncertainty. It has been seen that the outsourcing IT project oversees tend to carte the
challenge of weak management as the third part that is being assigned the IT project is not
necessarily to be better and it might pull out the venders at the first stage reflecting the weak IT
management (Hurt, 2022). Further, outsourcing of IT project also creates the risk of reflecting
the inexperience staff. Along with this, the issues such as the lack of the operational control
along with the issue and risk of lack of data security and confidentiality is also tend to be
associated while outsourcing IT projects overseas especially to India.
2.4. To analysis the importance and need of the knowledge management while outsourcing the
IT project
According to the view point of the Herrera, A. and Camacho, S., 2022, it has been seen
that the many risk and challenge are being led by outsourcing of IT project in form of the lack of
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data security and confidentiality along with challenge in effective communication. Thus, there is
need and importance of effective knowledge management tend to arises while outsourcing the IT
project. It has been seen and analysed that a higher level of the control over the generation,
transformation and use of the knowledge is being led by the knowledge management that is
enhancing its need and importance while outsourcing IT project. Along with this, the knowledge
management has become important within outsourcing project as it keep the knowledge
documented, structured, and easy to find along with supporting a standardize processes across
the organization. Along with this effective knowledge management system also tend to make
training materials accessible and well organized and save employees time for searching
information and along with leading better communication and cooperation while outsourcing of
IT project (Moftian and et. al., 2022).
2.5. To investigate about the effective mitigation strategies that can be used for future
outsourcing of IT project overseas.
With respect to the information provided by the Mohagheghi, V., Mousavi, S.M. and
Shahabi-Shahmiri, R., 2022, it has been seen that the effective mitigation strategies that can be
used for future outsourcing of IT project overseas comprises of ensuring and having the better
cultural and work ethic alignment along with prioritizing the project management. Along with
this, the strategy of effective scheduling the regular status updates and develop a better
understanding about the skill availability and potential responsiveness is also tend to be effective
mitigation strategies that can be used for future outsourcing of IT project overseas (Li, Wu and
Zhu, 2022).
2.6 Summary
on the basis of above literate review, a summarisation can be made that Knowledge
management is associated with better organising, assessing, storing and transforming of data to
bring higher operational efficiency. Further, it has been summarized that the many risk
associated with lack of data security and communication challenge are tend to be faced while
outsourcing IT project overseas. Beside this, it has been also summarized that an important role
and supports is being led by knowledge management while outsourcing the IT project through
supporting better control and monitoring.
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3.0 Research Philosophy and Design
3.1 Research Method/Methodology
There are two main methods of conducting research comprises of the qualitative and
quantitative research method. Out of these the qualitative are being concerned with the
undertaking of a detailed and in-depth study that is more complex as well as tend to be the time
consuming in nature. Therefore, making use for the quantitative seemed appropriate for current
study as it supports easy collection of data in numeric terms along with supporting measurable
set of research result (Ali and et. al., 2022). Along with this, the application of the positivistic
philosophy would be made to have systematic and practical undertaking of project. Beside this,
use of the deductive approach would also be made to support better testing and scanning of the
quantitative nature of data to effectively meet the set objective.
3.2 Research Methods and Instruments for Data Collection
The two main sources for data collection comprises the primary and secondary source
which are used for collection of data within current project. It has been seen that the primary set
of data collection supports the first hand in formation while secondary data collection helps in
analysing pre-existing set of information. Beside this, use of survey strategy would be made for
collection of primary data with the help of questionnaire as research instrument. On the other
hand, secondary data would be reviewed from the online articles, journals and other available
literature (Cohen and Mou, 2022).
3.3 Sampling
A sample size of the 40 participants would be selected from the international clients from
Americans, English, Australians or Canadian who manage international IT project outsourcing
with the help of the random sampling method.
3.4 Data Analysis Tools
the use of the frequency table along with pie charts would be made for the analysis of
quantitative method based on statistical presentation and analysis of the data (Tsai and et. al.,
2022).
3.5 Access and Ethics
To maintain the confidentially and reliability of facts access of the data is supported and lead
to only provided to the researcher and tutor. Beside this, to maintain the ethical consideration
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implication of BERA ethical code and the Data protection act has been made to ensure the
confidentially, safety and protection of data along with ensuring authenticity and reliability of
facts (Battistella and Treff, 2022).
4.0 Summary
4.1 Summary
On the basis of current project, a summarisation can be made that knowledge management
is tend to be associated with entering better management of data within a form comprise of its
effective organisation, storing, use and transformation. Further, it has been also concluded that
many risk are associated with outsourcing of IT project overseas that comprises of issue of lack
of data security and confidentiality. Thus, implication of some effective mitigation strategies that
can be used for future outsourcing of IT project overseas become vital.
4.2 Timescale
Activ
ities
1st
week
2nd
week
3rd
week
4th
week
5th
week
6th
week
7th
week
8th
week
9th
week
10th
week
11th
week
12th
week
13th
week
resea
rch
topic
aims
and
objec
tives
resea
rch
prop
osal.
Liter
ature
revie
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w
resea
rch
meth
odolo
gy
quest
ionna
ire.
Colle
ction
of
data.
Anal
ysing
the
colle
cted
data
Draw
ing
concl
usion
.
Reco
mme
ndati
on
Arra
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nging
repor
t
Cons
ultati
on
with
tutor.
Perfo
rmin
g
modi
ficati
on if
any.
Final
subm
issio
n.
4.3 Anticipated Limitations
The lack of sufficient time and resources are seen as the main limitation of current project as
access and reach to limited data has been made because of limited time. Further, maintaining the
reliability and authenticity of data being collected is also a limitation.
REFERENCES
Books and journal
Ali, S. and et. al., 2022. Practitioner’s view of the success factors for software outsourcing
partnership formation: an empirical exploration. Empirical Software Engineering, 27(2),
pp.1-63.
Battistella, L.R. and Treff, L.A., 2022. Re-AbilityLab: Innovation and Strategic Aspects of the
Knowledge Economy–Innovative Elements in Rehabilitation. In Cases on Applying
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Knowledge Economy Principles for Economic Growth in Developing Nations (pp. 34-
55). IGI Global.
Cohen, J. and Mou, J., 2022. THE CONTRIBUTION OF GOVERNANCE AND
CAPABILITIES TO IT OUTSOURCING SUCCESS: A META-ANALYTIC STUDY.
Emiliano de Souza, D., Favoretto, C. and Carvalho, M.M., 2022. Knowledge management,
absorptive and dynamic capacities and project success: A review and
framework. Engineering Management Journal, 34(1), pp.50-69.
Gupta, R.S., 2022. Knowledge management and quality control in software outsourcing projects.
In Research Anthology on Agile Software, Software Development, and Testing (pp.
1484-1510). IGI Global.
Herrera, A. and Camacho, S., 2022. Uncovering the knowledge coordination process in
information and communication technologies services outsourcing from the provider’s
perspective. VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems.
Hurt, S.S., 2022. Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration in Virtual Manufacturing Project
Teams (Doctoral dissertation, Capella University).
Li, S., Wu, M. and Zhu, M., 2022. What's in it for me? The occurrence of supplier innovation
contribution in the context of supplier-dominant innovation: The supplier's
perspective. Industrial Marketing Management, 104, pp.182-195.
Moftian, N. and et. al., 2022. The effects of a spiral model knowledge-based conversion cycle on
improving knowledge-based organisations performance. International Journal of
Knowledge Management Studies, 13(1), pp.71-89.
Mohagheghi, V., Mousavi, S.M. and Shahabi-Shahmiri, R., 2022. Sustainable project portfolio
selection and optimization with considerations of outsourcing decisions, financing
options and staff assignment under interval type-2 fuzzy uncertainty. Neural Computing
and Applications, pp.1-22.
Tsai, F.S. and et. al., 2022. Open innovation and SME performance: The roles of reverse
knowledge sharing and stakeholder relationships. Journal of Business Research, 148,
pp.433-443.
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