Strategic Outsourcing: A Structured Approach to Outsourcing Decisions and Initiatives [Hardcover]

Maurice F. Greaver II (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 8, 1999

"Organizations are turning to external suppliers for everything from payroll processing to facilities management. The goal is better quality at lower costs, but too often the results are disappointing to dismal -- simply because many buyers lack a clear outsourcing methodology. Using the concepts in this book, managers responsible for outsourcing will learn to avoid typical pitfalls and ensure success. Readers learn how to: * determine core competencies that should be kept in-house rather than outsourced * align outsourcing with overall corporate strategy * use outsourcing to support transformation strategies such as restructuring and TQM * evaluate, compare, and select vendors * develop targeted RFPs (requests for proposals), negotiate win-win contracts, monitor how vendors perform, and evaluate financial savings * handle "recompetition" as contracts end--an especially hot topic"

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

"Organizations are turning to external suppliers for everything from payroll processing to facilities management. The goal is better quality at lower costs, but too often the results are disappointing to dismal -- simply because many buyers lack a clear outsourcing methodology. Using the concepts in this book, managers responsible for outsourcing will learn to avoid typical pitfalls and ensure success. Readers learn how to:

* determine core competencies that should be kept in-house rather than outsourced

* align outsourcing with overall corporate strategy

* use outsourcing to support transformation strategies such as restructuring and TQM

* evaluate, compare, and select vendors

* develop targeted RFPs (requests for proposals), negotiate win-win contracts, monitor how vendors perform, and evaluate financial savings

* handle ""recompetition"" as contracts end--an especially hot topic"

About the Author

MAURICE F. GREAVER II (Washington, DC) is a former corporate CFO and CPA at Haskins & Sells. He now heads his own financial and management consulting firm and teaches the American Management Association’s course on Strategic Outsourcing.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 17 and up
  
• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: AMACOM (March 8, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814404340
• ISBN-13: 978-0814404348
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #696,008 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent guide for oursourcing, January 6, 2000

By 

Richard Reed (Indianapolis, Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strategic Outsourcing: A Structured Approach to Outsourcing Decisions and Initiatives (Hardcover)

"Strategic Outsourcing" is the finest outsourcing book that I have read. It covers a complex subject in a comprehensive manner. One of the book's unique aspects is that Maurice Greaver has made this complex subject easy to understand. The examples are many and interesting, and his writing style makes it actually a fun read. I encourage those wrestling with an outsourcing decision or project to read this book-it's well worth the investment.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Packed With Knowledge!, February 16, 2001

By 

Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strategic Outsourcing: A Structured Approach to Outsourcing Decisions and Initiatives (Hardcover)

Books on corporate outsourcing generally reflect one of two themes: Outsourcing is either the ultimate answer to all your strategic worries or it's the ultimate evil. Maurice F. Greaver II leaves little doubt about which camp he belongs to in his boosterish review of the outsourcing process. The fact that the author is an unabashed outsourcing proponent takes nothing away from this comprehensive overview of an important business trend. Greaver achieves a feat that most strategists-turned-writers do not even strive for: He quickly disposes of the why and gets right to the how. Outsourcing can be a complex, controversial and sometimes painful practice. This book will tell you how to approach it, how to implement it, and how to proceed once it's in place. The book does have a couple of shortcomings: It's heavy with jargon and it doesn't provide enough detail about how managers should address employees dissatisfaction, which is arguably the biggest hurdle an outsourcing company must clear. Despite these weaknesses, the book is an impressive work, which we at getAbstract.com recommend to executives, managers, employees and students.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Focused on the essentials, December 21, 1999

By 

Mark Lorenzetti (Tampa, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strategic Outsourcing: A Structured Approach to Outsourcing Decisions and Initiatives (Hardcover)

This book is both very informative and interesting, one that brings outsourcing theory to life. Its pragmatic approach offers frequent insights into actions to take and, more importantly, what mistakes to avoid.

The chapter on Outside Advisors was of great value. So often, as was our case, we didn't know what we didn't know. Using an outside advisor, such as Maurice Greaver, allows the project team to quickly identify and cut through the jungle of issues, and to focus on the path to success! This book is the next best thing to having his expertise in the room, as part of the team.

Another area was most valuable - Mr. Greaver's discussion of the complex "make or buy" financial decision. There were a number of elements for consideration that I hadn't thought about. This could have been a costly mistake, and one I would have made if not for the thorough explanation provided in Strategic Outsourcing.