[ten-seven]

I wish my former employer was willing outsource services. While the customer base grew from two to twenty, the staff size trippled, the IT staff eventually doubled.

It takes strategy and vision to outsource and manage the IT house. But, you've got to hold on to somebody to run the outsourced IT shop and hold them to your standards and keep them on your strategic course. An IT project manager of sorts.

And while it takes money (expense instead of payroll and training), be prepared to spend it. IT isn't something you try to afford, it's something you can't afford not to do right.

If you find yourself working in an IT shop where every smart solution (keeping to the strategy) is too expensive, look around and consider getting out. They're on the path to bungle it.