Skip to main content

From Outsourcing to Best-Sourcing? The Global Search for Talent and Innovation

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Human Capital and Innovation

Abstract

Outsourcing has received a poor reputation in the media, general public, and political arena in the Western world. It has been criticized for domestic job losses and the exploitation of unskilled workers in developing countries. What most opponents do not realize, however, is that there are different types of outsourcing, some of which may involve corporate efforts to lower overhead costs by gaining access to low-waged labor while others entail the acquisition and retention of highly skilled and talented professionals who are valued for their ability to innovate. There is no one-size-fits-all approach and not all outsourcing is harmful. A KPMG survey, entitled, Top Market Trends and Predictions for 2016 and Beyond, revealed that talent shortages and challenges were of the highest concern and had the largest negative impact on businesses. Global companies can create a competitive advantage in the market place by attracting the best people from all corners of the world. The “war for talent” has become “the new norm” (Brown, 2016).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 89.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    http://www.nba.com/2015/news/10/27/nba-rosters-feature-100-international-players/; http://www.nba.com/2014/news/10/28/international-players-on-opening-day-rosters-2014-15/

  2. 2.

    All figures in this chapter were either created by the authors based on information provided by Quatrro Global Services or obtained directly from the Company’s archives. The authors have full permission to publish the content.

References

  • Anderson, V. (2015). International HRD and offshore outsourcing: A conceptual review and research agenda. Human Resource Development Review, 14(3), 259–278.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boermans, M. A., & Roelfsema, H. (2015). The effects of internationalization on innovation: Firm-level evidence for transition economies. Open Economies Review, 26(2), 333–350.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, D. J. (2016, February). Top global market trends and predictions for 2016 and beyond. KPMG International. http://www.kpmg-institutes.com/institutes/shared-services-outsourcing-institute/articles/2016/02/sourcing-advisory-global-pulse-report-4q15.html

  • Buchelt, B. (2015). Performance management in polish companies internationalizing their market activities. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 26(15), 1965–1982.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buckley, P. J. (2014). International integration and coordination in the global factory. In P. J. Buckley (Ed.), The multinational enterprise and the emergence of the global factory (pp. 3–20). London: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Buckley, P. J., & Casson, M. (2014). Marketing and the multinational: Extending internalisation theory. In P. J. Buckley (Ed.), The multinational enterprise and the emergence of the global factory (pp. 20–51). London: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Cappelli, P. (2011). HR sourcing decisions and risk management. Organizational Dynamics, 40(4), 310–316.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, C. M., Raynor, M. E., & McDonald, R. (2015, December 1). What is disruptive innovation? Retrieved April 6, 2016, from https://hbr.org/2015/12/what-is-disruptive-innovation

  • Clampit, J., Kedia, B., Fabian, F., & Gaffney, N. (2015). Offshoring satisfaction: The role of partnership credibility and cultural complementarity. Journal of World Business, 50(1), 79–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Contractor, F. J., Kumar, V., Kundu, S. K., & Pedersen, T. (2010). Reconceptualizing the firm in a world of outsourcing and offshoring: The organizational and geographical relocation of high-value company functions. Journal of Management Studies, 47(8), 1417–1433.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DiMasi, J. A., Grabowski, H. G., & Hansen, R. A. (2016). Innovation in the pharmaceutical industry: New estimates of R&D costs. Journal of Health Economics, 47, 20–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foster, G., O’Reilly, N., & Davila, A. (2016). Sports Business Management. NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedman, T. L. (2007). The world is flat: A brief history of the twenty-first century. New York: Picador USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • FSRN. (2016, April 30). U.S. postal service workers protest outsourcing to big-box Staples—FSRN. Retrieved April 6, 2016, from http://fsrn.org/2014/04/u-s-postal-service-workers-protest-outsourcing-to-big-box-staples/

  • Google Corporate Website—Google. (2016). Retrieved May 4, 2016, from https://www.google.com/about/company/

  • Graen, G., & Grace, M. (2015). New talent strategy: Attract, process, education, empower, engage and retain the best. SHRM-SIOP Science of HR White Paper Series. https://www.shrm.org/Research/Documents/SHRM-SIOP%20New%20Talent%20Strategy.pdf

  • Hackman, J. R., & Oldham, G. R. (1976). Motivation through the design of work: Test of a theory. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 16(2), 250–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hashi, N., & Buckley, P. (2009). A global system view of firm boundaries. Globalization and the Global Factory. Edward Elgar Pub. Retrieved from https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/globalization-and-the-global-factory?_website=uk_warehouse

  • Heric, M., & Singh, B. (2010). Outsourcing can do much more that just cut costs. Forbes, 15 June. http://www.forbes.com/2010/06/15/outsourcing-capability-sourcing-leadership-managing-bain.html

  • Jensen, P. D. Ø., & Pedersen, T. (2011). The economic geography of offshoring: The fit between activities and local context. Journal of Management Studies, 48(2), 352–372.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaganer, E., Carmel, E., Hirscheim, R., & Olsen, T. (2013). Managing the human cloud. MIT Sloan Management Review, 54(2), 23–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, N. (2009). No logo: 10th Anniversary edition with a new introduction by the author (10 Anniversary ed.). New York: Picador.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klingshirn, R. G., & Wisniewski, B. (2006). Solving the offshoring dilemma. T + D, 60(6), 49–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kopelman, R. E., Rovenpor, J. L., & Guan, M. (2003). The “study of values”: Construction of the fourth edition. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 62(2), 203–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lacity, M., & Willcocks, L. (2014). Business process outsourcing and dynamic innovation. Strategic Outsourcing: An International Journal, 7(1), 66–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lacity, M. C., Willcocks, L. P., & Rottman, J. W. (2008). Global outsourcing of back office services: Lessons, trends, and enduring challenges. Strategic Outsourcing: An International Journal, 1(1), 13–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lajili, K. (2015). Embedding human capital into governance design: A conceptual framework. Journal of Management & Governance, 19(4), 741–762.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewin, A. (2012, February 12). Survey: Organizational flexibility as a new benefit of global outsourcing. News release, Duke’s Offshoring Research Network. http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/news_events/news-releases/offshoring-jan2012/#.VuytU85zqFI

  • Lewin, A.Y., Massini, S., & Carin, P. (2009). Why are companies offshoring innovation? The emerging global race for talent. Journal of International Business Studies, 40, 901–925.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacCormack, A. D., Forbath, T., Brooks, P., & Kalaher, P. (2007). Innovation through global collaboration: A new source of competitive advantage. Division of Research, Harvard Business School.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manning, S., Massini, S., & Lewin, A. Y.. (2008). A dynamic perspective on next-generation offshoring: The global sourcing of science and engineering talent. Academy of Management Perspectives, 22(3), 35–54. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/27747462

  • Musteen, M., & Ahsan, M. (2013). Beyond cost: The role of intellectual capital in offshoring and innovation in young firms. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 37(2), 421–434.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osterhammel, J., & Petersson, N. P. (2009). Globalization: A short history. (D. Geyer, trans.). Princeton University Press. Outsell Report, 2013. Outsellinc.com

  • Peng, M. W. (2013). Global business (3rd ed.). Eagan, MN: South-Western College Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pereira, V., & Malik, A. (2015). Human capital in the Indian IT/BPO industry (2015 edition). Houndmills, Basingstoke; Hampshire; New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Power, B. (2013, February 7). Keeping work organized when your team is fragmented. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2013/02/keeping-work-organized-when-your-team-is-fragmented

  • Presbitero, A., Roxas, B., & Chadee, D. (2016). Looking beyond HRM practices in enhancing employee retention in BPOs: Focus on employee-organisation value fit. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 27(6), 635–652.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sciaretta, B. (2011). Tutored in Germany, playing for the US. The New York Times, 11 November. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/11/sports/soccer/in-global-search-for-talent-us-soccer-team-trends-german.html?_r=0

  • Shortage of Skilled Workers is Primary Reason for Offshoring Jobs. (2011, January 19). News release, Duke’s offshoring research network. http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/news_events/newsreleases/offshoring_jan_2011/#.VusvgRIrJUM

  • Simba. (2009). Global STM Publishing 2008–2009 : Market Research Report. Simba Information. Retrieved from http://www.simbainformation.com/Global-STM-Publishing-1609434/

  • SJR. (2016). SJR—International Science Ranking. Retrieved April 12, 2016, from http://www.scimagojr.com/countryrank.php?area=0&category=0&region=all&year=2014&order=it&min=0&min_type=it

  • Su, N., Levina, N., & Ross, J. W. (2016). The long-tail strategy of IT outsourcing. MIT Sloan Management Review, 57(2), 81–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Temkar, P. (2015). Clinical operations generation next… the age of technology and outsourcing. Perspectives in Clinical Research, 6(4), 175–178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wickramasinghe, V. (2015). Effects of human resource development practices on service quality of services offshore outsourcing firms. The International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 32(7), 703–717.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiederhold, G., Gupta, A., & Neuhod, E. (2010). Offshoring and transfer of intellectual property. Resources Management Journal, 23(1), 74–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodard, M. S., & Sherman, K. E. (2015). Toward a more complete understanding of offshoring: Bringing employees into the conversation. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 26(16), 2019.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, M., Pawar, K. S., Shah, J., & Mehta, P. (2013). Evaluating outsourcing partners’ capability: A case study from the pharmaceutical supply chain. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 24(8), 1080–1101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Copyright information

© 2017 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Pingali, S.R., Rovenpor, J., Shah, G. (2017). From Outsourcing to Best-Sourcing? The Global Search for Talent and Innovation. In: Kundu, S., Munjal, S. (eds) Human Capital and Innovation. Palgrave Studies in Global Human Capital Management. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-56561-7_7

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics