So You Think You Can...(Manage A Multi-Sourced Environment)?

Key Points

• Effective management of multi-sourced environments requires:

• an early and ongoing assessment of your governance requirements;

• clear communication about your multi-vendor governance requirements; and

• involvement of the right people (both internally and from within each vendor organisation) at operational and escalation levels.

Multi-sourced arrangements are becoming common in ICT transactions. Such arrangements enable agencies to leverage the skills and value propositions of a number of vendors to enhance the efficiency of ICT transactions. However, co-ordinating and governing multiple vendors needs to be factored into contract and risk management and the cost of your sourcing arrangements. This article examines what legal and governance tools might be employed to maximise vendor co-operation, co-ordination and