Research & Insight

Year archives: 2012

Unprotected Tooling: High Risk Practices in Chinese Manufacturing Part 2

Thomas Keenan and Geofrey L. Master, Mayer Brown JSM

In part 2 of this series, we’ll discuss common problems in tooling as well as tooling in the real world and the importance of comprehensive, enforceable tooling arrangements. Part 1 defines tooling as part of the integrated outsourcing process as well as tooling financing and ownership. As a result of globalization and the ability of …

Keeping it Simple: The New Model for IT Service Management | White Paper

Outsourcing Center, Patti Putnicki, Business Writer

Today’s IT infrastructure has a lot of moving parts. There have always been the servers, network, security concerns and desktops to deal with – along with standard and custom applications. Enter cloud, virtualization and mobility, and that complexity moves to a whole new level. In addition to desktops, IT personnel have to find a way …

Unprotected Tooling: High Risk Practices in Chinese Manufacturing – Part 1

Thomas Keenan and Geofrey L. Master, Mayer Brown JSM

As a result of globalization and the ability of consumers to purchase products at the lowest cost, Chinese manufacturing has become an integral part of the supply chains of many consumer product companies. With the high level of integration of consumer product companies and Chinese manufacturing, there is an increasing reliance on manufacturers to finance, …

The Impact of the U.S. Patriot Act on Cloud Data Privacy: The Myths, the Rumors and the Reality

Outsourcing Center, Patti Putnicki, Business Writer

There’s a rumor circulating in Europe, igniting fear and paranoia among businesses and consumers alike: Big Brother is alive and well and living in a U.S.-based cloud. That is, cloud data privacy is in jeopardy.  Allow us to explain. Two European companies announced the creation of the first fully European “Database-as-a-Service” cloud offering – one …

When Should You Begin to Prepare for the End of an Outsourcing Contract?

Robert Joslin, Managing Director, Alsbridge

Hint: 12 Months Out is TOO Late When should you start working on your next outsourcing contract? Many organizations do not address the end of a contract until the last year of its term. The notification period in the contract, typically 6-to-12 months, usually triggers this discussion. However I believe this is a mistake. Developing …

The Evolving Product Sourcing Value Chain in China – Part 2

Thomas Keenan and Geofrey L. Master, Mayer Brown LLP

The entire sourcing value chain for consumer products sourced or manufactured in Asia has become increasingly interconnected and mutually reliant—ownership of physical manufacturing assets and intellectual property rights has become more ambiguous and contentious. With ambiguity over ownership and rights to manufacturing assets, customers lose the key leverage of mobility. While brand companies were able …

Under the Radar: A Look at Oft-Overshadowed ITO Trends

Outsourcing Center, Patti Putnicki, Business Writer

If information technology outsourcing (ITO) were a movie, cloud, analytics and mobility would be the headliners. Although this trendsetting triad is having a dramatic impact on how services are consumed and how companies operate, a number of other significant trends are emerging in the information technology outsourcing space. This article focuses on those unsung heroes …

How Cloud, Competition and a Maturing Market are Transforming ITO

Outsourcing Center, Patti Putnicki, Business Writer

In the world of IT, Cloud has been the media darling, taking center stage in every conversation and publication. While it’s true that Cloud is a major trend in and of itself, its adoption has caused a domino effect in the industry as a whole. The advent of utility-based pricing, in combination with a more …

The Retail Revolution: Big Changes in Store

Outsourcing Center, Patti Putnicki, Business Writer

The past few years have not been kind to the retail industry. Sluggish economies, shrinking margins and a more cost-conscious consumer have taken their proverbial toll. “We’ve seen retail sales increase by 5 percent to 6 percent, yet profits declined from 3.5 percent to 2 percent.  So, even though stores are selling more, they’re making …

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