Who Benefits From Outsourcing?: The Political, Economic and Cultural Ramifications of Outsourcing

Overview

While simple on the surface, the decision to outsource is a major strategic undertaking for most companies. Since it involves evaluating the probable reduction in costs against the consequences of a loss in control over production or performance of a certain business function, the opportunity to outsource and offshore should never be taken lightly. There are also other considerations - economic effects, political consequences, and even cultural limitations. So who really benefits from outsourcing and offshoring when there are so many issues and constituencies involved? This White Paper explores the economic and political implications of outsourcing and offshoring, while identifying cultural differences that can make or break a sourcing relationship and examining techniques for managing successful deals.