In IDC’s Q1 2009 report on alternatives to traditional benchmarking, Swingtide will be noted as one of the few firms that practices and recommends an alternative approach called the Outsourcing Health Check. Swingtide maintains that many IT outsourcing deals fail because of a disconnection with current client objectives and a growing asymmetry between the business cases of the outsourcer and the client organization. Healing this disconnection and resolving the asymmetry is at the heart of the Swingtide approach, which differs from benchmarking in that it does not attempt to force a comparison of deal terms and pricing with other “like” deals.

Swingtide managing director Diane Carco is quoted by IDC advocating for this less divisive (and arguably more effective) approach to preventing outsourcing deals from failing.

This approach to outsourcing governance was discussed at a joint seminar given by leading Canadian law firm Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP and Swingtide and attended by IDC.

About Swingtide:

Swingtide, Inc. is an organization of high-value consultants with real-world experience, an analytical approach, and the ability to identify and solve IT-related business problems with well-defined methods. Its senior business and IT professionals have the experience required to solve complex business and technical problems in rapidly changing environments. Founded in 2001 with backing from FirstMark Capital and private investors, Swingtide helps its consulting clients reduce cost, efficiently outsource and effectively complete mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, and realize the benefits of new technologies in information-intensive industries including insurance and financial services.