The Contracting Organization: A Strategic Guide to Outsourcing

When should organizations contract out services traditionally produced in-house? Is outsourcing another ephemeral management fad, or is it an efficient and effective means of delivering sevices and of adding value? What are the characteristics of strategically sound contracting decisions, and how can organizations prosper from the outsourcing revolution? These questions are among those tackled by Simon Domberger. Based on over a decade of research and consulting experience, its conclusions have many practical implications. The book develops an analytical decision-making framework for the assessment of contracting options, and has relevance in both the private and public sectors. Containing a wealth of illustrations and over 25 case studies, the coverage is fully international. Over 50 companies and public sector organizations are discussed, including well-known names such as Microsoft, BP, Marks & Spencer, and Samsung. This book will be valuable to all those seeking a better understanding of the outsourcing phenomenon, and useful to managers, strategists, management and business consultants, public sector administrators, policy makers, as well as to students of economics, business, management and public administration. Pre-publication Endorsements John Kay, Said Business School Oliver Hart, Harvard University Rob Grant, Georgetown University

Table of Contents:
Part I: Organizations and Markets 1: Why make when you can buy? 2: The shifting boundaries of organizations Part II: Benefits and Costs 3: The benefits of contracting 4: The costs of contracting Part III: Contracting Strategies 5: Specialization 6: Value capture 7: Control and flexibility 8: Organizational change Part IV: Structural Change 9: Public sector contracting 10: Contracting and the service economy 11: The future of contracting 12: Conclusions Glossary 100 key business concepts associated with contracting, outsourcing, and strategy

About the Author :
Simon Domberger is Professor of Management at The Graduate School of Business, University of Sydney, Australia. In addition to numerous academic appointments, he has also worked as a market analyst, statistics officer and research associate. He writes a regular column for the leading Australian business daily.

Review :
`Domberger's systematic analysis of contracting is a very welcome contribution to students of public administration and management, as well as to policy makers and public sector managers straying to the jungle of New Public Management texts.' Anita Niemi-Iilahti, New Institutionalism and Organizational Theory, 2000. `an interesting list of questions concerning important elements of the contracting strategies. The questions increase the value of the book as course literature. Another valuable contribution in this sense is the thematic guides to further reading for students or organizational change and reform.' Anita Niemi-Iilahti, New Institutionalism and Organizational Theory, 2000. `Domberger's book provides a structured, systematic approach to contracting decisions and outsourcing strategies.' Anita Niemi-Iilahti, New Institutionalism and Organizational Theory, 2000. "...Simon Domberger, an international authority on contracting out (outsourcing) has written THE book on this subject. ...In Short, This book should be found in the library of every firm and public organization that is already contracting out and wishes to improve its operations. Furthermore, it is a "Must Read" for decision-makers who are contemplating contracting out for the first time." Jonas Prager, New York University. Amazon review, January 12, 2000. "...well presented analytical decision-making framework for assessing the contracting options which are relevant to both private and public sectors" Long Range Planning, October 1999, Vol 32