Early warning signals. Your program manager must honestly report problems and program status. The earlier a problem is detected, the more options you have for solutions. Outsourcers may delay bringing bad news, fearing that they will lose a client. Your own staff may fear political retribution for failure. An unbiased third party can protect your organization from being blindsided at the last minute.

As IT builds less and buys more, effective program management becomes increasingly critical to the success of your programs and ultimately to the success of your company. If you allow your outsourcer to also serve as your program manager, you lose your leverage and allow accountability for the program to drift outside your company. Augment your resources; don't abdicate your responsibility.

Bart Perkins is managing partner at Louisville, Kentucky-based Leverage Partners Inc., which helps organizations invest well in IT. He was previously CIO at Tricon Global Restaurants Inc. and Dole Food Co. Contact him at BartPerkins@Leverage Partners.com.