IT services industry in Chicago: Workforce development, global linkages, and regional policy implications

An analysis of the impact of the interplay between market forces and organizational characteristics on workforce strategies of small-to-mid-sized Information Technology services firms in the Chicago metropolitan area was undertaken.;An online survey was administered to a random sample of 88 small-to-mid-sized firms and autonomous Profit and Loss units, headquartered in Chicago, out of which 44 firms participated. In addition, case studies of 12 small-to-mid-sized IT Services firms were undertaken, which consisted of face-to-face, open-ended exploratory interviews with senior executives of firms. A combination of theories on factors determining corporate workforce strategies, including screening and credential theory, human resources architecture theory, and human capital theory, were used to develop the survey instrument and the case study interview protocol.;The results highlighted a myriad of complex interrelationships between service offerings, value propositions, historical and strategic contingencies, and market constraints that impact the ways in which IT services firms organize the supply of labor. Participants' responses indicated that there are three predominant workforce organization models prevalent in the industry. The Chi square tests of independence were used to verify the results. Case study responses further helped triangulate the findings.