Outsourcing: A Guide to ... Selecting the Correct Business Unit ... Negotiating the Contract ... Maintaining Control of the Process, 2nd Edition by Steven M. Bragg
Outsourcing: A Guide to ... Selecting the Correct Business Unit ... Negotiating the Contract ... Maintaining Control of the Process, 2nd Edition by Steven M. Bragg
For most of us, setting up an outsourcing arrangement from scratch is likely to be something we encounter relatively infrequently in our careers. After all, outsourcing is a generally a long term initiative, sponsored at the most senior levels of the organisation rather than an annual event. Nevertheless, if market pundits are to be believed, the outsourcing market is growing and trending towards smaller and more specialised contracts. Given these structural changes and the number of new suppliers entering the market the chances are that more finance professionals are going to be involved in outsourcing, as an advisor, sponsor or as part of an outsourced function. Bragg's book on outsourcing assumes no prior knowledge and takes a refreshingly practical approach to the subject. It is very much a “How to” book which stars with the identification of areas of corporate activity suitable for outsourcing right through to selecting a supplier, negotiating the contract, managing the supplier and dispute resolution.
There is a good body of very accessible knowledge in the book. Simply laid out, almost in bullet form, the book guides the reader through the process, highlighting factors to think about along the way. Very few people consider termination of an outsourcing contract at the beginning but Bragg devotes a whole chapter to the thorny subject or reversing an outsourcing arrangement. Practical tips about safeguarding personnel from poaching or transferring to other outsourcing contracts is just one example of the attention to detail.
In addition to dealing with outsourcing in general, Bragg also provides separate chapters covering outsourcing arrangements pertaining to individual functional areas, for example, human resources, computer services and logistics.
Although written for the completely uninitiated the book would be suitable for people thrust into the management of existing arrangements or considering a variation of terms. The content is very readable and easy to understand. It is the sort of book one wants to keep handy as an aide memoire prior to meetings with outsourcing suppliers. Almost any company or individual involved with outsourcing would derive benefit from Bragg's book, (now in its second edition), hopefully avoiding costly mistakes on the way.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BOOK BY WILEY - THE PUBLISHER
In today's competitive environment, many companies, large and small, are considering whether to outsource, what to outsource, and where to outsource. Outsourcing , Second Edition provides solid information upon which to base those decisions and provides the guidance and tools to help businesses capitalize on outsourcing opportunities.
Expanded and updated for today's global economy, this Second Edition includes new, in-depth information on the current operating environment, crucial contractual clauses, managing the supplier, terminating the arrangement, accounting for outsourced functions, and current trends. Comprehensive yet accessible, Outsourcing addresses the nuts and bolts of how to outsource any part of a company, covering those key topics for every conceivable part of a company: accounting, computer services, customer service, engineering, human resources, logistics, maintenance, manufacturing, sales and marketing, and administration. It includes practical guidance on everything from negotiation to implementation to termination, including:
•
How to incorporate outsourcing into company strategy
