Thinking sincerely about outsourcing often leads to the concept of being dependent. However, its consequence is quite the contrary.

How do these suppositional dependencies develop? Outsourcing itself is not the real problem as outsourcing only is a market-driven, exchangeable service. Usages of unique services, for which no alternative providers or solutions are to be found, develop the dependencies. Problems such as:

• Lacking documentation of software and configuration

• No possibility of adjustment to changes or extension

• Few specialized staff members possess all knowledge. Staff changes produce a loss of this knowledge.

• Staffing cutbacks leads to a growing dependency on the remaining staff. Thus, it also leads to software without any software maintenance, due to the shrinkage in skilled personnel.

Serious partners can reduce dependencies, which develop in each business cooperation. The matrix of a successful outsourcing results from several equally important items: confidence in each other, contracts and service agreements, transparency of services and prices, stipulated pre-conditions and suppositions.

Conclusion: By the use of outsourcing a service is bought instead of acquiring it internally, which frequently is not possible. These are very clear business connections. As there are that many outsourcing companies it is hardly possible to judge outsourcing a source of dependency.