Strategic Outsourcing: An International Journal最新文献

{"title":"An exploratory study of factors influencing make-or-buy of sales activities","authors":"Beth Rogers, Padmali Rodrigo","doi":"10.1108/SO-07-2015-0016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/SO-07-2015-0016","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose – This paper aims to explore how sales managers make resourcing decisions with particular focus on their perceptions of outsourcing. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is based on in-depth interviews with 29 senior sales managers from a variety of industry sectors based in the UK. All had more than five years’ experience of making resourcing decisions. Findings – The findings are that resourcing decisions are prompted by cost pressure, the need to access skills or to improve flexibility. Outsourcing preferences are strongly moderated by perceived reputational risk. Availability of suitable suppliers and the ability to manage outsourcing are also practical moderators. Research limitations/implications – The sample was purposeful in identifying and accessing senior respondents in substantial companies with extensive experience, but it was not random. Practical implications – Respondents reported a lack of information available when making resourcing decisions; the model proposed provides a framework by which sales managers can identify the factors which should be taken into account and the information they need to make objective evaluations of resourcing options. Originality/value – It has been acknowledged in prior literature that there is relatively little outsourcing of sales activities. This is the first exploratory study of the perceptions of sales managers about resourcing options and the first conceptualisation of how sales resourcing decisions are made.","PeriodicalId":319712,"journal":{"name":"Strategic Outsourcing: An International Journal","volume":"173 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124226306","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diversity in team composition, relationship conflict and team leader support on globally distributed virtual software development team performance","authors":"V. Wickramasinghe, S. Nandula","doi":"10.1108/SO-02-2015-0007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/SO-02-2015-0007","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose – This study aims to investigate whether diversity in team composition leads to relationship conflict, and, consequently, relationship conflict leads to team performance, and whether team leader support moderates the negative effects of relationship conflict on team performance. Design/methodology/approach – For the study, 216 team members working in globally distributed virtual software development projects responded. To examine the hypothesized relationships, structural equation modeling with maximum likelihood estimation was performed. Findings – It was found that diversity in team composition leads to relationship conflict, relationship conflict leads to team performance and team leader support moderates the latter relationship. Practical implications – The findings suggest the role of team leaders in reducing the harmful effect of relationship conflict on team performance. The findings imply the need of providing training to team leaders to create cohesive teams that deliver on project goals....","PeriodicalId":319712,"journal":{"name":"Strategic Outsourcing: An International Journal","volume":"79 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123704894","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Decision support system framework for performance based evaluation and ranking system of carry and forward agents","authors":"B. Karthik, Rakesh D. Raut, Sachin S. Kamble, M. G. Kharat, S. Kamble","doi":"10.1108/SO-02-2015-0008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/SO-02-2015-0008","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a research model that explore strategic outsourcing practices for sustainable competitive advantages. In this paper, a decision support system (DSS) for sustainable performance measurement of carry and forward agents (CFAs) is proposed. Design/methodology/approach – The importance of seven criteria as a means of selecting the best CFA for warehouses under the aspect of sustainable environment is analyzed. The criteria are compared and ranked using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) with the combined assistance of literature review and expert opinions. This study makes use of unstructured interviews of Regional Distribution Manager and senior strategic leaders of the firms. Findings – This paper discusses how strategic outsourcing can help firm to achieve desired business outcomes. The selection of best CFA gives a direction to the company to move toward excellence and provides the key areas to work upon to achieve competitive advantage. The main contribution...","PeriodicalId":319712,"journal":{"name":"Strategic Outsourcing: An International Journal","volume":"168 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115643562","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Crowdsourcing: a comprehensive literature review","authors":"Mokter Hossain, I. Kauranen","doi":"10.1108/SO-12-2014-0029","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/SO-12-2014-0029","url":null,"abstract":"– The purpose of this paper is to explore the development of crowdsourcing literature. , – This study is a comprehensive review of 346 articles on crowdsourcing. Both statistical and contents analyses were conducted in this paper. , – ISI listed journal articles, non-ISI listed journal articles and conference articles have had nearly the same contribution in crowdsourcing literature. Articles published in non-ISI listed journals have had an essential role in the initial theory development related to crowdsourcing. Scholars from the USA have authored approximately the same number of articles as scholars from all the European countries combined. Scholars from developing countries have been more relatively active in authoring conference articles than journal articles. Only very recently, top-tier journals have engaged in publishing on crowdsourcing. Crowdsourcing has proven to be beneficial in many tasks, but the extant literature does not give much help to practitioners in capturing value from crowdsourcing. Despite understanding that the motivations of crowds are crucial when planning crowdsourcing activities, the various motivations in different contexts have not been explored sufficiently. A major concern has been the quality and accuracy of information that has been gathered through crowdsourcing. Crowdsourcing bears a lot of unused potential. For example, it can increase employment opportunities to low-income people in developing countries. On the other hand, more should be known of fair ways to organize crowdsourcing so that solution seekers do not get a chance to exploit individuals committing to provide solutions. , – The literature included in the study is extensive, but an all-inclusive search for articles was limited to only nine selected publishers. However, in addition to the articles retrieved from the nine selected publishers, 52 highly cited articles were also included from other publishers. , – Crowdsourcing has much unused potential, and the use of crowdsourcing is increasing rapidly. The study provides a thematic review of various applications of crowdsourcing. , – The study is the first of its kind to explore the development of crowdsourcing literature, discussing the loci and foci of extant articles and listing applications of crowdsourcing. Successful applications of crowdsourcing include idea generation, microtasking, citizen science, public participation, wikies, open source software and citizen journalism.","PeriodicalId":319712,"journal":{"name":"Strategic Outsourcing: An International Journal","volume":"40 2 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131999359","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Business knowledge requirements and onsite offshore work division in Indian software outsourcing projects","authors":"Debasisha Mishra, B. Mahanty","doi":"10.1108/SO-10-2014-0025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/SO-10-2014-0025","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to find out the knowledge requirements and its effect on both onsite and offshore project work division for development, re-engineering and maintenance projects in Indian outsourcing software industry in different phases of software development. Design/methodology/approach – This study employs an expert interview approach in Indian software industry to find out knowledge requirement for project execution and division of work between onsite and offshore locations. The requisite data were collected through expert interviews and direct observations. Findings – The study found that the development projects require higher level of domain, strategic, business process and operation process knowledge in comparison to re-engineering and maintenance projects. So there is a need of higher onsite presence in development projects. The maintenance work is taken up at the offshore location in a phase-wise manner. Research limitations/implications – The implication of the study is in...","PeriodicalId":319712,"journal":{"name":"Strategic Outsourcing: An International Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132115614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Logistics Service Providers (LSPs) evaluation and selection","authors":"S. F. Alkhatib, R. Darlington, Trung-Thanh Nguyen","doi":"10.1108/SO-12-2014-0028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/SO-12-2014-0028","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an insight to the outsourcing decision-making through investigating if the old evaluation/selection criteria and methods still fit with current business priorities or not and, therefore, to identify the appropriate criteria and methods to develop a new selection framework. Since the economic recession of 2008, logistics outsourcing decisions have become more prominent to avoid high fixed costs and heavy investment requirements and to achieve competitive advantages. Design/methodology/approach – This is a focused literature review prepared after analyzing 56 articles related to the logistics service provider (LSP) evaluation and selection methods and criteria during 2008-2013. The academic articles are analyzed based on research focus/area, evaluation and selection methodology/methods and evaluation and selection criteria. Then reviewed result is compared with previous literature studies for the periods (1991-2008) to identify any possible shifts. Findings ...","PeriodicalId":319712,"journal":{"name":"Strategic Outsourcing: An International Journal","volume":"56 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130336253","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transforming capabilities in offshoring processes: Longitudinal development of organisational resources and routines in four Danish offshoring enterprises","authors":"Claus Jørgensen, O. Friis, C. Koch","doi":"10.1108/SO-12-2014-0031","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/SO-12-2014-0031","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose – This paper aims to focus on how organisational capabilities, enhancing the dynamic\u0000capability perspective, evolve during a more than five-year offshoring process in four Danish small- and\u0000medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The strategic decision to offshore some manufacturing activities\u0000meant that capabilities were ruptured and had to be rebuilt.\u0000Design/methodology/approach – The empirical investigation took the form of qualitative case\u0000studies with a longitudinal orientation focussing in on a few events in the four cases (strategic change\u0000in the sourcing configuration) as a process research design (Pettigrew, 1990; Van de Ven, 2007).\u0000Interviews were transcribed and coded in NVivo.\u0000Findings – The four cases followed distinct trajectories, but they all changed their routines regarding\u0000how to handle knowledge, including both technology and human resources. A need for specific human\u0000resources acting as boundary spanners arose, transforming both intra- and inter-organisational\u0000practices in all four cases. More complex activities were moved offshore to enhance the dynamic\u0000capabilities of the companies regarding both product development as well as specific processes, thereby\u0000transforming/reconfiguring the organisational capabilities of the companies. However, in the two\u0000small-sized cases, more complex/less routinised activities were backsourced, demonstrating a\u0000significant problem over time with the development of sufficient organisational resources to maintain\u0000seizing and sensing capabilities within these companies in comparison with the two other medium-sized\u0000cases.\u0000Research limitations/implications – The fact that most of the data were generated from an\u0000inside-out perspective, taking the point of departure in the core firms, can be viewed as a limitation. The\u0000authors’ data on the wider network are also limited. Finally, the authors’ interviews are conducted\u0000relatively infrequently when considering the length of the process.\u0000Practical implications – The four longitudinal cases show that the longer-term offshoring journey\u0000does not involve a single path or a single best practice. The cases show captive as well as outsourcing\u0000arrangements and even enterprise transformations. The cases demonstrate a common focus on finding\u0000and nurturing core suppliers and core business processes, which can be characterised as continual\u0000learning and development of organising capabilities.\u0000Originality/value – The study contributes to the growing body of research into dynamic\u0000(organisational) capabilities in an offshoring and SME context.","PeriodicalId":319712,"journal":{"name":"Strategic Outsourcing: An International Journal","volume":"100 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-02-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114610064","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Towards a framework for performing outsourcing capability","authors":"Sankalp Pratap","doi":"10.1108/SO-04-2014-0004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/SO-04-2014-0004","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose – The aim of this paper is to go beyond the “What to outsource” and “To Outsource or Not” debate. Recognizing outsourcing as a fast growing reality that firms have to depend upon, the paper concerns itself with optimal management of outsourcing arrangements through the practice of “outsourcing capability”. It argues that outsourcing failure can be mitigated if organizations see outsourcing as an “ongoing activity” to be managed as opposed to treating it as a one-time opportunistic “act”. Design/methodology/approach – Based on the review of existing literature and drawing upon recent instances of outsourcing successes and failures, the paper develops a conceptual framework which divides various organizational processes into four different classes. It delineates the varied aspects of “outsourcing capability” that a firm would need to use to manage these varied class of processes as and when they are outsourced. Findings – There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to managing outsourced processes. Dif...","PeriodicalId":319712,"journal":{"name":"Strategic Outsourcing: An International Journal","volume":"140 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127487525","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Conceptualising the production offshoring organisation using the viable systems model (VSM)","authors":"Godfrey Mugurusi, L. Boer","doi":"10.1108/SO-10-2014-0026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/SO-10-2014-0026","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose – The purpose of the paper is concerned with one of the main contributions from the field of management cybernetics, the Viable System Model (VSM) developed by Beer (1972). This paper analyses what happens in terms of the VSM when a firm engages in production offshoring. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is conceptual and develops four propositions about the nature of variety balance that production firms face, and what adjustments they make in the original viable system, both in terms of the properties of one or more of the basic subsystems and in the network of couplings between them. Findings – The paper shows the production offshoring organisation as a dynamic adaptive system in search of ways to cope effectively with external forces that undermine its viability. The paper discusses how VSM can advance production offshoring research by both supplementing and linking established approaches such as transaction cost economics, the resource-based view and the eclectic theory of international...","PeriodicalId":319712,"journal":{"name":"Strategic Outsourcing: An International Journal","volume":"34 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132686507","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Engagement and identification","authors":"J. Kuntz, Abigail Roberts","doi":"10.1108/SO-06-2014-0011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/SO-06-2014-0011","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose – The purpose of this study was to investigate the unique contributions from social (i.e. trust climate, departmental integration) and organisational factors (i.e. managerial recognition, goal clarity and technology support) to work engagement and identification with the organisation in a human resource offshoring (HRO) context. Design/methodology/approach – Participants were recruited from a large Australian financial institution with an HR centre located in the Philippines. Ninety-one members of the captive HR centre completed the anonymous online questionnaire consisting of quantitative items and open-ended fields. Regression analyses were conducted to ascertain the relationships hypothesised. Findings – The findings suggest that goal clarity is a key predictor of both engagement and identification with the organisation, and that technology support and managerial recognition also influence offshore staff members’ motivation and workplace attitudes. Research limitations/implications – The cross-...","PeriodicalId":319712,"journal":{"name":"Strategic Outsourcing: An International Journal","volume":"382 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133163724","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}