Outsourcing: A Guide to Selecting the Correct Business Unit; Negotiating the Contract; Maintaining Control of the Process

Citation

Bragg, S.M. (2000), "Outsourcing: A Guide to Selecting the Correct Business Unit; Negotiating the Contract; Maintaining Control of the Process", The Bottom Line, Vol. 13 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/bl.2000.17013aae.002

Outsourcing: A Guide to Selecting the Correct Business Unit; Negotiating the Contract; Maintaining Control of the Process

Steven M. BraggJohn Wiley & Sons, Inc.New York1998

Keywords Outsourcing, Negotiating

This book is designed to meet the needs of profit-making and non-profit making organizations which need to outsource any or all of its functions. The author begins by discussing strategic reasons for outsourcing functions, how to go about selecting a supplier who can take over the function, what should be included in the contract with the supplier, how to manage that supplier, and how to account for transactions with that supplier. The next section gives specific directions for outsourcing all of the functions of a typical company, from accounting to computer services, manufacturing, human resources and many other functions. To this end functionally specific chapters discuss clearly identifiable company functions, the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing that function, as well as the contractual and transitional issues specific to that function. In addition, these chapters discuss relevant ways to control the supplier, management issues, measuring the performance of the supplier's performance of the function, potential customer service issues, and even how to cancel the outsourcing arrangement with the supplier. The final part of this book summarizes outsourcing issues, discusses future trends in outsourcing, and lists selected readings for those who are interested in exploring further the field of outsourcing. The author includes an Appendix that contains measurements for tracking the performance of each company function if it is to be outsourced.

Although this book is written for businesses, it is of good use for the library manager. The author designed this book to give the reader the complete range of information necessary not only to make the decision to outsource but also to make the transition to a supplier and manage the resulting relationship.

Kay Ann Cassell Associate Director, Programs and Services for the New York Public Library's Branch LibrariesMarina I. Mercado Adjunct Faculty member at Mercy College, New York and a consultant in international business.