Turning Lead into Gold:
The Demystification of Outsourcing

by Peter Bendor-Samuel,

John Staedke

Hardcover (October 1, 2000)

Executive Excellence

Not every corporation is a leviathan, and not even leviathans can do everything themselves. This book provides a guide to outsourcing functions that your company can’t handle or maybe can’t handle as well as a specialized firm, turning the "lead" of a clunky, inefficient enterprise into effective and profitable "gold." The authors provide guidelines as to how to found a good relationship with an outsourcing partner and, if the inevitable problems do arise, how to deal with them and keep things going steady. All this is illustrated with case studies and graphic aids. Moreover, the book doesn’t only discuss the buying end of outsourcing; details are given for the selling side of things too, so it is worthwhile for people working in either area. The book is largely for beginners, though, and might be a waste of time for those who already have sizable outsourcing experience.

Strategic Outsourcing:

A Structured Approach to Outsourcing Decisions and Initiatives’

by Maurice F. Greaver

Hardcover (February 1999)

AMACOM

Often, attempts at outsourcing that look successful at first, end up washed up on the rocks. Many times, this is due simply to a lack of a coherent outsourcing policy. Maurice Greaver — former CEO and CPA at Haskins & Sells and financial and management consultant — aims to rectify this problem by providing a ready-made outsourcing methodology readers can apply in their own business dealings. He discusses when and where to outsource — calling upon companies to think hard on the question "Will this really turn a profit?" — how to go about sizing up potential vendors, negotiating contracts that will pay off for both sides and the oh-so-important keeping an eye on just how effectively a given vendor is working with your business. Case studies are included so you can see how well particular strategies pan out in the real world. In general, an excellent book.