Argues that outsourcing inevitably impacts on a range of organizational characteristics and their dynamic balance. States that though there are arguments in favour of outsourcing these are based on analysis of the system's formal side — which contain the technology‐based sub‐systems...

Approves of the UK's position as world leader in outsourcing and how industry has great reliance on it. Chronicles that outsourcing has its roots in the move to external provision of facilities management services such as:; cleaning; catering; and security. Contends that for employees the...

Submits that outsourcing is not particularly new and is credited with having played an important part in IBM's re‐engineering campaign of the last ten years. Identifies a number of key developments (drivers) of change that are pointing companies in outsourcing's direction: business process...

Elaborates on a survey (1995‐96), undertaken by PA Consulting Group on outsourcing, published in June 1996, which canvassed over 1,000 directors and senior managers in major organizations in eight countries: Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, New Zealand, the UK and the USA....

Argues that increased competition means that organizations face pressure to cut costs and improve efficiency, as customers can now buy in almost any location globally. Defines outsourcing as the handing over of responsibility, for some aspect of service provision, to a third party external to an...

Declares that many outsourcing decisions are taken on a straightforward value‐for‐money basis and itemizes these are such as: security; office cleaning; printing and travel arrangements, which are generally all handled better by specialist external sources. Indicates that only a short time...

Believes research shows that companies can achieve dramatic growth and high returns through nonsynergistic acquisitions. Forecasts that most companies can benefit from the nonsynergistic approach they describe but need to choose one of three routes to review their skills, structure and culture:...