Communication and control in outsourced IS development projects: Mapping to COBIT domains

Internal control over information technology (IT control) in complex outsourced information system development (ISD) projects is an ambiguous and sensitive issue. In this study we bring together Information Systems and Accounting perspectives to investigate how internal controls are incorporated into existing communication practices in outsourced ISD projects. The paper proposes that tools used for client-vendor communication are capable of supporting some of the IT control functions governed by the COBIT framework. In addition, it analyzes the influence of project complexity on the performance of communication tools as informal IT controls. Perceptual field data for the analysis were collected from project managers through an online survey instrument.