Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Business Value through selective sourcing.

In the not too distant past, there were only two sourcing delivery options; in source or outsource. To meet the changing needs and reduce risk, service providers and enterprises have developed an array of choices that better suit the requirements of corporations. In hind site, we have also seen that single-source sourcing is more expensive as solutions are developed that move into niche markets and are aligned to vertical industry functions. This deep expertise offers innovation as part of their service level agreement and delivers increases in efficiency and effectiveness improvements that drives the spirit of the relationship.

Today, I have seen first hand that companies are unwilling to completely dismantle operations and move their people, process and technology offshore with out considering of multiple sourcing choices. Picking, in some cases, multiple delivery options to meet their requirements and business goals. It is also clear that once a process is moved outside the walls, subject matter expertise is required in-house to effectively manage the process and relationship. Governance of multi-sourced relationship is a critical in toady's climate. A strategy, business case and associated action plan must be developed that aligns each choice to how it meets your business requirements and return on investment criteria. Successfully done, these choices will deliver a return on investment and can be used as a growth strategy that delivers to the bottom line.