Make that outsourcing contract air tight

For CIOs thinking about new outsourcing opportunities, make sure you negotiate a detailed contract that includes specific plans and procedures to protect yourself if something goes wrong. And if the outsourcing is offshore, make sure you understand local customs and legal standards before signing on the dotted line. Jeff Gordon, a professional negotiator, tells searchcio.techtarget.com that a contract should contain provisions that will ensure the outsourcing company will put forth a good face for your organization. He said that proper training, expected procedures and detailed goals should be written into the contract. "What a lot of companies fail to do is properly plan," Gordon said. "They fail to document procedures and policies, and expect the outsourcing company will just know what to do." Gordon recommends some key steps. They include stating how and when problems will be fixed, and what penalty will be levied if they are not; how you will handle a situation where a problem cannot be resolved; and under what circumstances a contract can be prematurely terminated.

For more on contracts:
- check out this searchcio.techtarget.com article