Hi Hilmar,

>Note that the problem, of not being able to tap into other people's...

That's right, my point is: "Independent Consultant", Go for it! (it's my case).

I need arguments to weaken the outsourcing small systems idea.

Regards,

Fernando

>>"Independent Consultant" - Go for it If your needs are small, and coordination with a lot of people is not a key factor for you. There are a number of individuals working on their own who have excellent skills and can be reasonably priced since they usually work out of their own homes, which is less expensive as far as additional costs. Make sure that the independent consultant is a really good match of the skills you need because he/she most likely will not have the ability to tap other people into his/her organization.
>
>Note that the problem, of not being able to tap into other people's knowledge, can be reduced in part, by (a) modern communication (MSN Messenger, e-mail, cheap long-distance phone calls, or even videoconferences), to communicate with other people in the organization, and (b) online forums such as this one.