Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with an Outsourcing Vendor: Ensuring Effective Governance of Enterprise IT

The Primary Goal of Implementing Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with an Outsourcing Vendor

Question

Which of the following should be the PRIMARY goal of implementing service level agreements (SLAs) with an outsourcing vendor?

Answers

Explanations

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A. B. C. D.

C.

The primary goal of implementing Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with an outsourcing vendor is to ensure that the services provided by the vendor meet the expectations of the customer. SLAs are formal agreements that define the specific services that the vendor will provide, the expected level of service quality, and the consequences if the vendor fails to meet these expectations.

Answer A, "Establishing penalties for not meeting service levels," is a common component of an SLA but it is not the primary goal. Penalties serve as a way to incentivize the vendor to meet the SLA requirements, but the ultimate goal is to ensure that the services are meeting the customer's needs.

Answer B, "Complying with regulatory requirements," may be a secondary goal of outsourcing, but it is not the primary goal of SLAs. SLAs are focused on service delivery and quality, rather than regulatory compliance.

Answer C, "Achieving operational objectives," is related to the primary goal of SLAs. SLAs are a means to ensure that the vendor's services are aligned with the operational objectives of the customer. By defining service expectations in the SLA, the customer can ensure that the vendor is providing services that support their overall objectives.

Answer D, "Gaining a competitive advantage," is not the primary goal of SLAs. While outsourcing can provide a competitive advantage, the primary goal of SLAs is to ensure that the vendor is delivering services that meet the customer's needs.

In summary, the primary goal of implementing SLAs with an outsourcing vendor is to ensure that the services provided meet the customer's expectations and needs. SLAs help to define the specific services, quality levels, and consequences for non-compliance, which can help to ensure that the vendor is delivering services that align with the customer's operational objectives.