This book provides a road-map to successful implementation of strategic outsourcing programmes, providing down-to-earth approaches to outsourcing decision making and programme management, based on a grass-roots understanding. A practitioner-focused book for business leaders and managers providing a holistic view of strategic outsourcing, covering the three essential pillars of success: risks, rewards and relationships. The author shows how business leaders can transform organisational business models, structures and mind-sets, taking the reader on a journey through the book's fifteen chapters, helping the reader truly grasp: the drivers for change as a result of globalisation and convergence and their impact on organisational strategies; how outsourcing can transform the various processes and functions of an organisation; the impact outsourcing is having on various industry vertical sectors; the eight foundations of successful strategic outsourcing programmes, which when combined with strategic decision-making knowledge, guarantees that organisations embarking on the strategic outsourcing journey, derive the transformational benefits they seek.

Dr Bharat Vagadia is a leading authority on Telecommunications, Managed Services and Outsourcing and has been involved in Managed Services and Outsourcing throughout his career. Dr Vagadia is a director of an outsourcing research and advisory firm (www.Op2i.com), is a Board Director of the UK National Outsourcing Association, the founder of a software-as-a-service decision governance system (www.GovernanceDirector.com), an advisor to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) on policy and regulatory affairs, and teaches on MBA programs at UK business schools.

1;Strategic Outsourcing;4 2;The Alchemy to Business Transformation in a Globally Converged World;4 3;Preface;8 4;Contents;10 5;List of Figures;16 6;List of Tables;18 7;List of Case Studies;20 8;The Author;22 9;Acknowledgements;24 10;Chapter 1:Role of Strategic Sourcing in a Changing World;26 11;Chapter 2: Globalisation and Convergence: Drivers and Strategic Outsourcing;32 12;Chapter 3:Social and Philosophical Considerations of Outsourcing;45 13;Chapter 4:From Tactical to Strategic Outsourcing;51 14;Chapter 5: Outsourcing Within Industry Verticals;79 15;Chapter 6:Strategic Outsourcing: Risks, Rewards and Relationships;105 16;Chapter 7:Sourcing Models;116 17;Chapter 8:Strategic Outsourcing Decision Governance;123 18;Chapter 9:Transition and Relationship Governance;138 19;Chapter 10:Insights from Academic Research on Outsourcing;153 20;Chapter 11:Minimising Risk Through the Contract;170 21;Chapter 12: Minimising Risk Through Relationships;174 22;Chapter 13:Offshoring Leaders, Laggards and Hopefuls;193 23;Chapter 14:Managing Cultural Differences;217 24;Chapter 15:Implementing Successful Strategic Outsourcing Programmes;225 25;Further Reading;241