Multi-sourcing

The IT department of 10 years ago might well have expected large-scale projects to be undertaken by a single supplier, but it is rare these days for clients to ‘single source'. The complexity of the work and technology involved means that it is increasingly hard for a single supplier to provide all the expertise required in-house: instead, they are more likely to focus on those areas of a project where their expertise is greatest and sub-contract other aspects to other specialists. Moreover, clients looking for world-class expertise - masters of one trade, rather than jacks of none - are better informed about which supplier excels in which area. Pulling together and managing consortia, especially where large-scale, complex programmes are concerned, has become a key skill for clients and consultants alike.