Despite quantum improvements to outsourcing deals and governance over the past 10 to 15 years, when it comes to achieving outsourcing excellence there’s still plenty of opportunity. Part of the challenge is that once the decision is made to outsource or change providers, the clock starts ticking….fast. It takes real discipline to know when to [...]
At the most basic level, the challenge with change management is that everyone knows it’s important, even that it’s make or break to the success of outsourcing engagements, but very few actually know what it is or how to do it. Even the most outsourcing-sophisticated organizations fall short in their change management activities. Sourcing change [...]
In June 2011 I was interviewing the COO of a California-based bank as part of an application strategy engagement. At the end of the conversation, he asked if Alsbridge had any data on the number of contracts in which the client repatriated all of the services. My answer was, “Off hand I don’t know, but [...]
Few things can ensure the failure of an outsourcing project like a poorly executed transition. Outsourcing transitions are complex endeavors requiring coordinated change across the people, processes and technologies in multiple areas of the organization. “Planning for the Plan” is the start of the process. Based on the readiness of your organization these plans can [...]
There’s no shortage of methodologies and advisories on best practices and risk mitigation strategies for the transition phase of outsourcing relationships. Even so, many buyers encounter situations they didn’t foresee when structuring their arrangement, which cause costs to rise and delay time to value. Outsourcing Center studied these types of situations by surveying companies nominated [...]
Ask 10 buyers of outsourcing services for their keys to success in communicating with their service providers, and you’ll hear 10 different answers because, of course, the effectiveness of communication depends on the individuals involved. Some will also say it depends on whether they’re communicating about day-to-day operations, conflicts or opportunities. Others will comment that [...]
Outsourcing is no longer a risky undertaking; it’s a mainstream business strategy. However, despite the strong adoption, many outsourcing relationships continue to fail. This white paper takes a look at what drives outsourcing success and presents detailed information about six key success factors. The paper cites findings from studies of such firms as Gartner and [...]
Outsourcing a help desk can appear to be an easy strategy for reducing cost and improving service levels. However, there are significant challenges and pitfalls that can erode the return on investment. The top challenge is partnering with the right vendor. This white paper pinpoints the 11 biggest mistakes that companies make when choosing an [...]
Charlie Bess, HP Fellow, HP Enterprise Services, says the outsourcing industry is facing “a different kind of IT and support environment than what we had just a few short years ago.” Here’s how he describes this new environment: More sensors deployed in more parts of a customer’s business giving organizations a deeper understanding of their [...]
As GE’s Jack Welch states, mistakes can often be as good a teacher as success. In studying outsourcing relationships through Outsourcing Center’s annual Outsourcing Excellence Awards program since 1996, Outsourcing Center has aggregated and analyzed the lessons learned – mistakes and successes – by hundreds of buyers and providers of outsourcing services. These lessons learned [...]
In studying outsourcing relationships through Outsourcing Center’s annual Outsourcing Excellence Awards program since 1996, Outsourcing Center has aggregated and analyzed the lessons learned – mistakes and successes – by hundreds of buyers of outsourcing services. These 100 lessons learned focus on issues related to each phase in the outsourcing life cycle – provider selection, contract [...]
As organizations move up the value chain to achieve more dynamic outcomes and return on investment from outsourcing, the complexities and business criticality of the functions outsourced also increased. Managing through these complexities, achieving business transformation, and identifying and leveraging the “sweet spots” of value require collaboration between the service provider and client organization. An [...]
The possible perils that can impact the success of an outsourcing relationship’s transition phase are well known. These days, most buyers are as aware as service providers of the need for a robust governance framework that facilitates the parties’ identification of challenges and working collaboratively to address them quickly. Most have also read tales of [...]
At Outsourcing Center, a frequent comment we hear from buyers of outsourcing services is: “If I had it to do all over again, I would put in place a more effective structure for managing the service provider and the relationship.” The problem is significant enough that it spawns many advice-oriented articles with titles such as: [...]
New capabilities, like cloud computing, software-as-a-service, mobile device web access, and data center virtualization and consolidation, are significantly changing both the possibilities and the complexities of outsourcing IT functions. Analysts predict radical change in the shape of IT “factory” functions such as end-user support and help-desk services. However, an Information Week survey notes that almost [...]
In an outsourcing arrangement, decision makers at the buyer’s organization look to maximize the value of their outsourcing investment. They therefore look for a service provider that not only has the requisite process, industry, and technology expertise but one that also can manage to uncertainties and minimize the buyer’s risks, enhance the buyer’s agility, and [...]
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