Innovation

Time to talk Talks

Posted: 02/25/2016 - 22:37

I always find it gratifying when a dormant project is resurrected: it means that effort already exerted (perhaps a while beforehand) has not after all been wasted, and that what seemed a good idea at the time continues to seem so some time down the line. With this in mind, I’m delighted to announce the (re)launch of our Outsource Talks webinar series, our attempt to bring the “chat show” format to the outsourcing space.

The Delivery Engine: rediscovering lost lessons on corporate governance

Posted: 02/19/2016 - 20:59

Over the past 40 years something extraordinary has been happening in organisations. The staff and management who populate them have been getting progressively smarter, at least when measured by their education, ongoing training and number of books read. Paradoxically, the organisations themselves seemed to have become dumber.

Artificially limited: liability for machine intelligence

Posted: 02/03/2016 - 22:53

Anyone with even a passing interest in technology will be well used to the claim that a particular IT system – some combination of hardware and software – is “clever technology”. Similarly, synonyms for intelligence have been appended as a prefix or suffix by every IT vendor’s marketing department to add an extra sparkle to their latest technology.

Nearshoring in Europe to increase customer experience

Posted: 01/29/2016 - 00:56

There is a significant shift in customer experience management in Europe as more brands shun traditional offshoring destinations in favour of customer contact centres closer to their customers. In an increasingly competitive global market, organisations are seeking to boost revenue and profits by strengthening customer relationships and using customer service to gain competitive advantage.

The robots don't want our jobs!

Posted: 01/22/2016 - 22:15

Robots hit the headlines over many national and industry outlets this week. The clincher statistic, as reported by Bloomberg, The Times, and most of the international press, is that over five million jobs will be lost by 2020 as a result of developments in artificial intelligence, robotics and other technological change.

Rising to the IT challenge

Posted: 01/20/2016 - 00:19

Wandering around the Gartner Symposiums at the end of last year, listening to the keynote speakers and chatting with CIOs from some of the world’s leading brands, it is clear that the year’s theme was very apt. “Rise to the Challenge” reflects both the exciting opportunities and the daunting demands on IT departments. At a time when budgets continue to flat line, CEOs are looking to digital transformation as a crucial step to their future business success, and they expect their CIOs to pull out the proverbial IT rabbit to support this goal.

Outsource in 2016: new year, new ownership, new opportunities

Posted: 01/18/2016 - 23:34

As it’s my first column of 2016, a belated “very happy new year!” to all Outsource’s readers around the world. I hope the old year ended wonderfully for everyone, and that 2016 has started superbly on all fronts. As many of you will now be aware, the turn of the year has seen some rather gigantic developments here at Outsource.

SIG (Sourcing Industry Group) Expands Global Footprint with Acquisition of Outsource Magazine

Posted: 01/16/2016 - 07:18

Press release: Jacksonville, Fla. (PRWEB) January 12, 2016

SIG, the premier membership organization for sourcing, procurement and outsourcing executives, today announces the acquisition of Outsource magazine and welcomes Jamie Liddell to the SIG executive team.

Getting to the real-life win-win

Posted: 10/04/2012 - 07:09

This article originally appeared in Outsource Magazine Issue #29 Autumn 2012


After two years of blogging for Outsource I hope readers have at least heard of Vested Outsourcing and maybe even read one of our three books. But perhaps you have some doubts and concerns, so you are still waiting on the sidelines. All too often we hear, “I like the theory of Vested, but does it really work in the real world? Are companies (especially ones people have heard of!) adopting the Vested approach?”

Outsourcing is Not Make Versus Buy: It is a Continuum

Posted: 04/04/2012 - 07:36

This article originally appeared in Outsource Magazine Issue #27 Spring 2012


Deciding to outsource demands a thorough make/buy analysis. However, far too many companies take the concept of make-or-buy as black and white.  Dr. Oliver E. Williamson challenged the traditional make/buy decision process with his Nobel Prize-winning work in the area of transaction cost economics. Williamson received the Nobel Prize in 2009.

All in the Game

Posted: 04/06/2011 - 00:00

This article originally appeared in Outsource Magazine Issue #23 Spring 2011

Leading academics charted a path that challenges the conventional definition of winning. Smart companies are applying these concepts, showing that win-win thinking is not just something nice to say: it’s smart business – and really is beautiful…

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