Advanced Outsourcing Practice

Mary Lacity and Leslie Willcocks have studied and worked with outsourcing practitioners for over 20 years. As the world's leading authorities in the field, the authors have assembled a rich database of over 2,200 outsourcing arrangements, studied across sectors and geographies, and over time, from inception, through contract signing, to outcomes. This book provides unparalleled insight into the robust practices that have been proven effective time and again. As such, it serves as a vital digest of essential sourcing techniques. But the authors also point to impressive case evidence supporting the newest thinking, redirections, and advanced practices that produce business value beyond cost savings. Hence the authors aim at thoughtful, experienced clients and providers who are ready for a radical, evidence-based rethink. Through this book leaders will master the advanced practices required to drive for and deliver the cost and efficiency gains, innovation and business advantages available from the various sourcing options now on stream. In particular, Lacity and Willcocks show how practitioners can optimize the strategic value inherent in offshore outsourcing, shared services, bundled services, impact outsourcing, advanced BPO, rural outsourcing, and cloud computing. This work will be a vital resource for all practitioners looking to reinvigorate, leverage and render strategic their outsourcing enterprise.

MARY C. LACITY is Professor of Information Systems and an International Business Fellow at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, USA. She is also Co-Chair of the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals Midwest Chapter, Industry Advisor for the Outsourcing Angels and Everest Research Institute, Associate Researcher at The Outsourcing Unit, London School of Economics, Senior Editor of the Journal of Information Technology and Co-editor of the Palgrave series Technology, Work and Globalization. She is on the Editorial Boards for MIS Quarterly Executive, Journal of Strategic Information Systems, Strategic Outsourcing: An International Journal, and Journal of the Association for Information Systems (JAIS). She was the recipient of the 2008 Gateway to Innovation Award sponsored by the IT Coalition, Society for Information Management, and St. Louis RCGA and the 2000 World Outsourcing Achievement Award sponsored by Pricewaterhouse Coopers and Michael Corbett and Associates. She has published 13 books and over 100 publications in academic and practitioner outlets on the topic of outsourcing. LESLIE P. WILLCOCKS is Professor of Technology Work and Globalization, Head of the Information Systems and Innovation Group, and Director of The Outsourcing Unit at the London School of Economics and Political Science, UK. He is known for his work on global sourcing, information management, IT evaluation, e-business, and organizational transformation, as well as for his practitioner contributions to many corporations and government agencies. He has been Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Information Technology for the last 20 years, and is joint series editor with Mary C. Lacity, of the Palgrave book series Technology, Work and Globalization. He has co-authored 34 books, including most recently The Outsourcing Enterprise: From Cost Management to Collaborative Innovation and The Practice of Outsourcing. He has published over 220 refereed papers in journals such as Harvard Business Review, Sloan Management Review, MIS Quarterly, MISQ Executive, Journal of Management Studies, Communications of The ACM, and Journal of Strategic Information Systems.