The relocation of IT service delivery to low-cost countries is an established business strategy today. Matthias Daub develops a structured framework for the management of service offshore centers taking into account the strategic relevance of the services and the characteristics of their customer relationships. Detailed case studies give important insights into different service offshoring centers in Eastern Europe. The study shows which coordination mechanisms to apply and can serve as a guideline for academics as well as for practitioners.

Vorwort
Insights into the coordination of service offshoring centers in Eastern Europe

Autorentext
Matthias Daub finished his doctorate at ESCP-EAP Europäische Wirtschaftshochschule in Berlin, Chair of International Management and Strategic Management. He now works as a management consultant specializing on topics of strategy, globalization, and technology.

Zusammenfassung
Nowadays, it is essential for a multitude of companies to engage in foreign markets. However, the successful management of internationalization processes constantly poses new challenges. By publishing the book series mir-Edition, the editors attempt to provide academic guidance on the manifold and complex requirements of international business activities. The book series' purpose hence is twofold. Firstly, the mir-Edition is to provide empirical assessment and theoretical elaboration on the phenomena which can be observed in international management practice. Secondly, the findings obtained are to be made available in the form of systematised knowledge, explanations, thought-provoking impulses as well as recommendations for further courses of action. For the past 50 years, the international journal mir Management International Review, which is read in more than 40 countries, has seen itself committed to promoting an understanding of international management as an applied academic discipline. As of now, the journal only publishes articles in English. The wider range of the existing book series ought to give authors and readers the opportunity to deal with the various problems of international management in a comprehensive and thorough manner. The editorial board of the mir- Edition was extended in 2008 through the addition of renowned experts from the domain of international management. Yet, the established editors' policy for the mir-Edition of presenting innovative work to a critical audience, which support the scientific advancement, has remained unchanged.

Inhalt
Introduction Approaching Service Offshoring.- Theoretical Foundations Developing Building Blocks of Service Offshoring Typology.- Research Model and Propositions Deriving Typology Dimensions from Organizational Theories.- A Typology of Service Offshoring Subsidiary Combining Building Blocks and Dimensions.- Methodology Preparing and Conducting Qualitative Research.- Results Presenting Four Case Studies of Service Offshoring Subsidiaries in Eastern Europe.- Discussion Findings from Cross-Case Analysis and Beyond.- Conclusions What we have learned, What We Have Not learned, and What Might Come Next.