Originally Posted by
forgot to bid
alright you got me thinking so I'm going looking for the best why you should be outsourcing quotes from all of those grade inflated ivy league business skools. There is a whole lot of nothing said in several articles imcluding outsourcing articles from HBR but I'm finding quotes of quotes that go back aways such as below: (mind you this is all done on iphone):
James Brian Quinn and Frederick G. Hilmer, “Strategic Outsourcing,” Sloan Management Review (Summer, 1994): 43-55.*
Most companies can substantially leverage their resources through strategic outsourcing by: 1.* developing a few well-selected core competencies of significance to customers and in which the company can be the best-in-the-world, 2.* focusing investment and management attention on these core competencies, and 3.* strategically outsourcing many other activities where it cannot be or need not be best.* There are always some inherent risks in outsourcing, but there are also risks and costs of insourcing.* When approached within a genuinely strategic framework, using the variety of outsourcing options available and analyzing the strategic issues, companies can overcome many of the costs and risks.***
Interesting, FTB. To me, outsourcing seems to always be oriented around cost cutting. But it usually comes to the detriment of excellence. I think businesses should strive for excellence... especially in the products they produce and in the customer service they provide. From everything I've ever seen, outsourcing = mediocrity at best. Here's Tom Peters (a highly respected business consultant and writer) with some thoughts along these lines:
YouTube - Tom Peters: Business Should Be Energetic and Passionate
Also, take a look at this TV commercial from Accenture, one of the largest consulting firms. As I see it, the basic message of this commercial is that "convention" (doing fundamentals well) is 90% of business. But then take a look at the tag lines at the bottom of the screen at the very end of the commercial: *Consulting *Technology *Outsourcing. This has always bugged me every time I see one of their commercials... as I have never seen outsourcing result in doing fundamentals well, especially in the airline industry!
YouTube - Accenture TV Ad by Tiger Woods